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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

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premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illuf;trent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

FAMOUS  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


BRANT  AND  RED  JACKET. 


INCLUDING 

INCLUDING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  EARLY  WARS  OF  THE  SLK 

NATIONS.   AND  THE   BORDER  WARFARE 

OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 


urf 


EDWARD   EGGLESTON 


AND 


LILLIE   EGGLESTON   SEELYE. 


NEW  YORK: 

DODD,  MEAD  &  COiMPANY, 

PUBMSnERS. 


.1    V' 


:> 


^ 


4^ 


Copyrif  kt,  1879,  by  Dodd^  Mead  &  Comtamv.    • 


9  CO/ 


88  4  o 


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4- 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Preface ix 

CHAPTER  I. 
The  People  of  the  Long  House ii 

-      CHAPTER   n. 

.  ,  ' '  ' 

Champlain  and  the  Five  Nations 22 

CHAPTER   III. 
A  Battle  in  the  Woods 32 

CHAPTER  IV.               • 
Champlain  Attacks  a  Seneca  Town 37 

CHAPTER  V. 
An  Indian's  Revenge 48 

CHAPTER   VI. 
A  Prisoner  among  the  Five  Nations 51 


i 


IV  CONTENTS. 

•« 

PAGB 

CHAPTER  VII. 
A  Mohawk  Peace 66 

CHAPTER   VIII. 
The  Ruin  of  a  Nation 74 

CHAPTER   IX. 
Canada  in  Danger 8} 

CHAPTER  X.     , 
In  the  Lion's  Jaws 93 

CHAPTER   XI. 
What  Seventeen  Young  Men  Did 106 

CHAPTER   XII. 
The  Conquerors 114 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
How  a  Girl  Defended  a  Fort 117 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Brant's  Patron 128 

CHAPTER  XV. 
An  Indian  War  Council 137 


■ 


I 


': 


+  f 


CONTENTS.  V 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Brant's  First  Battle 142 

CHAPTER  XVn. 

The  Six  Nations  in  Brant's  Boyhood 150 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 
Brant  at  the  Battle  of  Niagara 159 

CHAPTER   XIX. 
Brant's  School  Days 164 

CHAPTER   XX. 
Sir  William  Johnson  and  the  Pontiac  War 167 

CHAPTER   XXI. 
Brant  in  Time  of  Peace 176 

CHAPTER   XXII.       . 
The  Storm  Brewing 182 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Brant,  the  War  Chief 191 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
The  Battle  of  The  Cedars 197 


vl  CONTKNTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Wooden  Guns  and  False  Dispatches 202 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Attempt  to  Kill   Brant 206 

CHAPTER   XXVH 
The  Forerunners  of  a  Siege 211 

CHAPTER   XXVni.- 
The  Siege  of  Fort  Stanwix 218 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 
The  Battle  of  Oriskany 222 

CHAPTER   XXX. 
How  a  Simpleton  Raised  the  Siege 231 

CHAPTER   XXXI. 
War  on  the  Border 244 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 
The  Massacre  of  Cherry  Valley 252 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Brant's  Battle  on  the  Delaware 261 


i 


M 


i 


CONTENTS.  VII 

TACK 

CHAPTER   XXXIV. 
Red  Jacket 266 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 
The  Invasion 270 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 
Brant  Gives  Battle  to  General  Sullivan 276 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Brant  and  his  Captives 286 

CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 
Retaliation 295 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
Brant's  Second  Visit  to  England 308 

CHAPTER   XL. 
Red  Jacket,  the  Orator 318 

.   CHAPTER   XLI. 
Red  Jacket  Tried  for  Witchcraft 333 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
An  Indian  Game  of  Ball 340 


VIU 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 
Red  Jacket's  Plot  against  Brant — Brant's  Death. .   344 


CHAPTER   XLIV 
The  Battle  of  Chippewa 


352 


CHAPTER   XLV. 
Anecdotes  of  Red  Jacket , 


359 


7 


i! 


1 

9 


I 


PREFACE. 


^ 


In  this  book  we  have  endeavored  to  keep  in 
view  the  main  purpose  of  the  series — to  make  the 
history  of  our  country  interesting  to  the  general 
reader,  and  especially  to  young  people.  We  have 
consequently  treated  with  fulness  those  passages 
in  the  history  of  the  Iroquois,  and  in  the  lives  of 
Brant  and  Red  Jacket,  that  had  to  do  with  per- 
sonal adventure. 

We  have  not  thought  it  necessary  to  encumber 
the  pages  of  a  book  intended  for  popular  use 
with  references  to  authorities. 

We  are  of  course  very  largely  indebted  to  the 
voluminous  and  painstaking  works  of  Colonel 
William  L.  Stone,  the  "  Life  of  Brant,"  in  two 
octavo  volumes,  and  the  *'  Life  of  f^ed  Jacket." 
These  works,  compiled  from  original  documents, 
are  of  the  highest  authority  and  value,  but  their 
very  fulness  of  information  and  quotation  renders 
them  more  useful  to  the  historical  student  than  to 
the  general  reader.  We  are  also  greatly  indebted 
to  *'  The  Campaign  of  Lieut.-Gen.  John  Burgoyne," 
by  Willium  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  the  younger,  and 
"  The  Life  and  Times  of  Sir  William  Johnson." 


-  vnmsiii.. 


PREFACE. 


by  the  same  author.  The  younger  Mr.  Stone  has 
ably  and  diligently  worked  the  historic  lead 
opened  by  his  father,  so  that  the  careers  of  the 
two  writers  seem  to  be  but  one.  "  The  History 
of  the  Five  Indian  Nations,"  by  Cadwallader 
Colden  (1727);  "The  Annals  of  Tryon  County," 
by  William  W.  Campbell ;  "  The  League  of  the 
Iroquois,"  by  Lewis  H.  Morgan;  "  History  of  the 
Indian  Tribes  of  Hudson's  River,"  by  E.  M.  Rut- 
lenbcr ;  "  The  Life  of  Capt.  Joseph  Brant " 
(Brantford,  Ontario,  1872);  Cusick's  "Sketches  of 
Ancient  History  of  the  Six  Natimis;"  Drake's 
"  Indian  Biography ;"  Bancroft's  "  History  of  the 
United  States ;"  "  Letters  and  Memoirs  of  Ma- 
dame de  Riedesel,"  with  others  of  less  importance, 
have  been  laid  under  contribution  in  the  writing 
of  this  book.  Mr.  Schoolcraft's  "  Notes  on  the 
Iroquois"  we  have  examined  carefully,  but  it  has 
furnished  little  of  value. 

Especial  mention  should  be  made  of  the  elo- 
quent histories  of  Mr.  Francis  Parkman,  to  which 
we  are  almost  wholly  indebted  for  the  account  of 
the  early  wars  of  the  Iroquois,  and  all  that  part  of 
the  narrative  which  touches  on  the  relations  of 
the  French  and  Indians.  The  reader  who  wishes 
to  pursue  the  study  of  the  early  history  of 
America  with  delight  cannot  do  better  than  to 
follow  Mr.  Farkman's  lead. 

The  Authors. 


)^ 


.'  f 


f 


■■aiaBifg|grjTTnrii_M;ii;,i*waii«<«iMWN»«>t«ii«»i^ 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  PEOPLE   OF  THE   LONG  HOUSE. 

The  most  celebrated  of  North  American  Indian 
nations  was  the  confederation  of  tribes  known  as 
the  Five,  and  subsequently  the  Six  Nations, 
called  by  the  French  the  Iroquois,  and  styled  by 
tliemselves  Ho-dc-no-saii-iiCi\  or  People  of  the  Long 
House.  It  is  difficult  to  get  any  idea  of  this  great 
savage  nation  previous  to  the  arrival  of  white  men 
in  North  America.  Like  all  barbarous  peoples, 
the  Iroquois  have  carried  down  volumes  of  tradi- 
tions with  regard  to  their  origin.  One  of  tlieir 
legends  relates  how  they  and  their  world  were 
created.  According  to  this  talc,  there  were  origi- 
nally two  worlds,  an  upper  and  a  lower.  The 
latter  was  in  darkness.  At  one  time  a  woman  sank 
from  the  upper  into  the  lower  world,  causing  great 
alarm  to  the  monsters  who  lived  there.  They, 
very  hospitably,  however,  prepared  to  receive  the 
descending  woman.  \  turtle  j)laced  himself  on 
the  surface  of  the  water  beneath  her,  while  a 
monster  sank  into  the  de[)ths  and  procured  a  hand- 


12 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


I 


ful  of  earth,  which  he  deposited  upon  the  turtle's 
back,  who  immediately  on  receiving  the  woman 
became  a  great  island,  covered  with  earth.  (So 
the  Indians  conceive  of  the  American  continent.) 
This  woman  was  the  mother  of  twin  boys ;  the  one 
of  a  gentle  disposition  was  called  the  Good  Spirit, 
the  other,  with  the  opposite  characteristics,  was 
called  the  Evil  Spirit. 

When  the  children  had  grown  up,  the  Good 
Spirit  became  dissatisfied  with  the  dark,  unfruitful 
v/orld  in  which  he  lived,  while  the  Evil  Spirit  pre- 
ferred his  home  as  he  had  found  it.  The  former, 
however,  took  the  head  of  his  mother,  who  was 
dead,  and  from  it  created  the  sun,  which  he  hung 
in  the  heavens.  Of  her  body  he  made  the  moon 
as  a  lesser  light  for  night,  and,  according  to  Indian 
imagination,  traces  of  the  woman's  arms  and  legs 
may  yet  be  seen  on  the  face  of  the  moon.  At  the 
sight  of  light,  the  monsters  of  the  water  retired 
into  the  depths. 

The  Good  Spirit  now  decorated  the  great  island 
with  streams  and  forests,  animals  and  fishes.  But 
the  Evil  Spirit  went  around  marring  his  work  by 
making  on  the  island  waterfalls,  mountains,  and 
steep  places,  which  things  are  evil,  being  nothing 
but  obstructions,  in  the  eyes  of  an  Indian.  The 
Good  Spirit  at  last  created   men  and  women  to 


I 


I 


THE   PEOPLE  OF  THE   LONG   HOUSE. 


13 


V 


inhabit  the  island,  and  appointed  the  thunder  to 
water  the  earth.  The  Evil  Spirit  made  reptiles 
and  injurious  animals,  and  finally  made  clay  ima<;es 
of  the  men  which  his  brother  had  created,  and 
these  became  apes. 

The  brothers  finally  decided  to  settle  by  a  battle 
which  should  be  ruler  of  the  world.  For  tw(3 
days  they  fou|^ht,  leaving  a  track  behind  them  like 
the  path  of  a  whirlwind.  The  G(M)d  Spirit  at  last 
gained  the  victory,  Indian-like,  by  stratagem.  The 
Evil  wSpirit,  as  he  fell  dying  to  the  ground,  declared 
that  he  would  have  equal  power  with  his  brother 
over  men's  souls  after  death.  Thus  he  became  the 
dreaded  Evil  Spirit,  while  his  brother  is  the  Good  • 
or  Great  Spirit. 

The  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  were  the  wildest, 
most  ferocious  and  ambitious  of  Indian  peoples. 
Through  the  strength  of  their  permanent  confeder- 
ation they  swept  the  country  with  their  conquests, 
from  the  Mississippi  to  Maine,  and  from  Canada  to 
the  Southern  States.  They  exterminated  whole 
tribes  of  Indians,  drove  other  tribes  from  their  ter- 
ritory, and  subjugated  still  others.  The  French  in 
Canada  found  the  Algonquin  Indians  of  their 
neighborhood  overshadowed  with  a  constant  fear 
of  the  Five  Nations.  The  Dutch  settlers  of  New 
York,  in  their  early  acquaintance  with  the  Manliat- 


^ 


H 


IIRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


tan  Indians,  discovered  them  to  be  in  a  state  of  sub- 
jugation to  these  same  Five  Nations,  paying  them 
a  yearly  tribute  of  wampum  ;  and  e\'en  the  English 
in  Virginia  heard  dread  tales  of  the  warlike  en- 
croachments of  a  people  called  the  iMassaivajncks, 
who  were  none  other  than  the  Iroquois. 

When  William  Penn  made  his  first  treaty  with 
the  Delaware  Indians,  he  found  them  as  peaceably 
inclined  as  the  Quakers  themselves.  They  were 
not  lacking,  however,  in  Indian  fcnjcity  and  bar- 
barity, as  they  afterward  proved  when  they  had 
moved  farther  west ;  but  they  had  been  c(^mpletely 
subjugated  to  the  overbearing  confederacy,  which 
had  forced  them  to  lay  aside  arms  and  go  under 
the  appellation  of  women,  the  worst  of  indignities 
to  an  Indian  warrior.  Once  in  every  year  or  so, 
two  old  Iroquois  Indians  would  go  around  among 
the  Delawares  collecting  the  tribute  money,  or 
wampum,  which  consisted  of  beads  made  of  shell. 
A  single  Mohawk  chief  in  a  ragged  blanket  and 
dirty  clothes  might  then  be  seen  domineering  over 
whole  bands  of  degraded  warriors. 

Traditions  are  yet  handed  down  in  the  remnants 
of  eastern  Indian  tribes  incorporated  into  civilized 
life  of  the  fierce  inroads  of  the  Indians  of  the  Five 
Nations.  The  historian  Parkman  tells  with  what 
excitement  a  Penobscot  Indian  in  Maine  would  re- 


I 


THE   rEOPLE  OF  THE   LONG  HOUSE. 


15 


count  traditions  of  the  invasion  of  the  Mohawks, 
and  of  the  tortures  to  vvliich  tliis  tribe  of  the  Six 
Nations  had  put  whole  villages  of  his  people.  "  Mo- 
hog  all  devil !"  he  would  exclaim  with  deep  indig- 
nation. 

Never  were  Indian  tribes  better  situated  for  far- 
reaching  conquest.  The  Long  House  of  the  Five 
Nations,  as  they  figuratively  styled  their  country, 
lay  within  the  limits  (jf  the  present  State  of  New 
York.  North  of  them  was  Lake  Ontario  and  the 
St.  Lawrence;  east  of  them,  Lake  Cham[)lain  and 
the  Hudson;  west  of  them  Lake  Erie  o[)encd  a 
gateway  to  the  other  great  lakes;  and  in  llie  very 
heart  of  their  country  was  a  network  of  smaller 
lakes  and  rivers.  By  means  of  these  great  natural 
avenues,  the  Irocpiois  Indians,  witli  their  birch  and 
elm -bark  canoes,  coukl  alight  upon  the  h(,mes  of 
their  most  distant  enemies  with  all  the  suddenness 
which  IS  deemed  so  necessary  in  savage  warfare. 

The  original  Inxpiois  confederacy  c(msisted  of 
but  hve  nations,  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Ononda- 
gas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas,  and  as  the  Five  Na- 
tions they  were  known  in  early  history.  They 
were  subsequently  joined  by  a  tribe  of  siinilar 
specch  to  their  own,  the  Tuscaroras,  who,  living 
farther  south,  had  been  their  allies  in  some  of  their 
wars,   and   who,    having    been   driven   from   their 


i6 


UUANT  AND    RED  JACKET. 


home  in  a  war  with  the  white  settlers,  were  re- 
ceived into  the  Long  House  as  the  sixth  nation  in 
the  confederacy.  The  Mohawks  were  situated  at 
the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Five  Nations,  and  the 
Scnecas  at  the  western;  or,  in  the  Iroquois  fij^-urc 
of  speech,  the  Mohawks  guarded  the  eastern  door, 
the  Senecas  the  western  door  of  the  house. 

This  national  bond  between  fierce  and  jealous 
tribes  could  hardly  have  been  permanent  if  it  had 
not  been  for  that  stran<^e  Indian  institution,  the 
totem.  The  Six  Nations,  in  common  with  other  In- 
dian trilx3S,  were  divided  into  eiijht  great  clans,  or 
totems.  These  totems  were  known  severally  by  the 
names  of  the  Wolf,  Bear,  Beaver,  Turtle,  Deer, 
Snipe,  Heron,  and  Hawk.  Members  of  a  totem 
were  bound  by  the  strongest  fraternal  relations  to 
one  another ;  and  as  these  totems  traversed  the 
tribal  lines,  and  were  found  in  all  the  tribes  of  the 
.  confederacy,  they  bound  it  into  one  nation.  An 
Indian  must  marry  into  another  totem  than  his 
own,  while  the  children  belonged  to  the  mother's 
totem  and  not  to  the  father's.  Thus  the  chieftaincy 
or  sachemship  descended  in  the  female  line,  as  this 
office  belonged  only  to  certain  totems.  A  sachem 
was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  by  his  daughter's 
son,  or  by  his  sister's  son.  A  council  of  the  nations 
decided  upon  the  successor  within  the  proper  Um- 


1^1 


TIIK    PKOl'LK   OF   'HIK    LONG    HOUSE. 


17 


.0 


its  of  their  customs  of  hereditary  descent,  and  if 
the  sachem  were  not  fitted  to  his  ofTice,  the  council 
might  (lej)ose  him.  This  office  of  i)eace-chief,  as  it 
is  sometimes  called,  is  entirely  different  to  that  of 
war-chief,  to  which  an  Indian  arj-ives  throuj^h  his 
own  qualities  as  a  leader,  and  not  Ihroug^hany  right 
of  descent.  He  who  is  bold  in  battle,  or  has  a  gift 
for  leadership,  natu?-ally  rises  to  power  among  the 
young  braves.  So  it  was  with  Brant,  the  warrior, 
and  Red  Jacket,  the  orator;  for  the  great  men  of 
the  Six  Nations  were  all  chiefs  and  not  sachems. 

In  the  Onondaga  Valley  burned  the  figurative 
council -fire  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  here  stood  the 
national  council -house  where  the  great  chiefs  met 
to  discuss  projects  of  war  or  treaties  of  peace.  The 
meeting  of  this  council,  which  was  called  by  the 
sachems  of  any  nation  when  they  saw  fit,  was  a 
great  event  with  the  Indians.  Belts  of  wampum, 
which  are  a  universal  token  among  Indians  of  an 
important  message,  were  sent  by  rimners  from  one 
nation  to  the  other,  and  from  that  nation  to  the 
next.  Meanwhile,  the  news  spread  to  every  little 
Iroquois  hunting-party  through  all  the  wilderness 
of  their  country ;  and  if  the  question  of  the  moment 
were  of  sufficient  interest,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren made  the  journey,  no  matter  how  toilsome, 
to  the  place  of  meeting, 


i8 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


The  council -house  was  a  long  structutt:,  framed 
of  poles  and  covered  with  bark.  Around  the  sides, 
upon  rude  benches  or  on  the  ground,  sat  the  sach- 
ems, with  perhaps  some  few  favored  guests.  While 
a  speech  was  delivered,  in  a  sing-song  tone,  the 
auditors  smoked  with  perfect  stolidity.  Nov/  and 
then,  when  they  agreed  with  the  orator-,  they 
would  solemnly  utter  the  word  *'  Nee,"  or  **  Yes." 
By  way  of  applause,  at  the  end  of  a  speech,  they 
would  call  out,  "  I  lo-ho."  Meanwhile,  the  Onon- 
daga sachem  who  was  appointed  to  keep  the  wam- 
pum belts  would  receive  that  which  perhaps 
accom.panied  this  speech.  He  must  have  had  hun- 
dreds  of  belts,  but  he  could  tell  just  what  idea  each 
represented. 

At  noon  two  men  would  enter  this  solemn  as- 
sembly, bearing  a  great  kettle  of  meat  swing- 
ing from  a  pole  resting  on  their  shoulders.  At  the 
side  of  this  kettle  hung  a  capacious  wooden  ladle. 
The  great  kettle  was  carried  around  the  circle,  and 
each  Indian  helped  himself  to  an  ample  supply  of 
meat  with  the  wooden  ladle.  After  dinner  the 
grave  council  continued  as  before. 
'^  The  principal  towns  of  the  Six  Nations  were 
well  fortified,  being  sometimes  surrounded  with 
three  or  four  rows  of  high  palisades,  and  furnished 
on  the  inside  with  platforms  for  the  use  of  the  de- 


=? 


»»<.'3 


ww.'ii.  J8i'..^«^rarjj| 


THE   PEOPLE   OF  THE   LONG    HOUSE. 


19 


tr*>r\ 


fenders.  Stores  of  stones  were  laid  up  inside  to  be 
hurled  upon  the  heads  of  besiegers;  rnd  there 
were  even  some  sort  of  water- conduits  provided, 
in  order  that  fire  from  the  outside  might  be  extin- 
guished. These  fortifications  often  enclosed  sev- 
eral acres,  upon  which  long  cabins  were  built  by 
driving  posts  into  the  ground,  which  were  then 
interlaced  with  horizontal  poles  and  covered  with 
bark.  Through  the  middle  of  these  structures, 
sometimes  more  than  a  hundred  feet  in  length,  ran 
a  hall,  and  upon  each  side  were  small,  rude  rooms, 
partitioned  off  with  poles  and  bark.  Several  fam- 
ilies would  occupy  one  cabin,  building  their  fires 
in  tiie  central  hall,  and  using  the  rooms  for  sleep- 
ing. 

Around  these  fires,  in  the  long  winter-time,  such 
traditions  as  the  one  we  have  given  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  chapter  were  handed  down  from  parent 
to  child.  Here  old  braves  vaunted  their  deeds  of 
savage  warfare  ;  here  Indian  youths,  chafing  under 
the  restraints  of  an  idle  life,  longed  for  the  excite- 
ment of  the  war-path  and  the  glory  of  a  string  of 
scalps.  These  villages  were  surrounded  with 
apple -orchards  and  fields  of  corn,  beans,  and 
squashes,  sometimes  several  miles  in  extent. 

The  Iroquois  Indians  believe  in  three  sister 
deities,  the  Spirit  of  Corn,  the  Spirit  of  Beans,  and 


20 


BRANT   AND   RED   JACKET. 


the  Spirit  of  Squashes,  who  guard  over  these 
fruits  of  the  earth.  They  naturally  enough  dread 
the  Spirit  of  Thunder  more  than  any  of  their  other 
gods.  He  is  believed  to  be  the  messenger-of  the 
Great  ^Spirit  to  punish  those  who  displease  him. 
He  lived  originally,  say  the  Indians,  under  Niagara 
Falls.  They,  no  doubt,  imagined  that  he  made  the 
thundering  of  those  great  waters. 

Among  the  many  poetic  legends  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions is  that  of  Hiawatha,  on  which  Longfellow 
founded  his  famous  poem.  Hiawatha  was,  they 
believed,  a  god  who  came  and  lived  among  the 
Indians,  giving  them  seeds  and  teaching  them  use- 
ful arts.  He  it  was  who  originated  the  great  con- 
federacy of  the  Five  Nations ;  and  when  this  was 
accomplished,  he  ascended  into  the  heavens  in  his 
mystic  white  canoe. 

It  may  be  noticed  in  all  Indian  warfare  that  the 
Indians  make  every  exertion  to  secure  their  dead. 
They  believe  that  unless  the  body  has  a  proper 
burial,  the  spirit  will  wander  upon  the  earth  in 
misery  for  some  time.  For  this  reason  they  are 
accustomed  to  mutilate  the  body  of  an  enemy,  be- 
lieving that  they  are  inflicting  injuries  upon  his 
spirit.  According  to  their  vague  ideas  of  a  future 
life,  the  spirits  of  the  dead  must  perform  a  long 
journey  toward  the  west  before  they  reach  their 


'» 


»*"■ 


m 


THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE   LONG  HOUSE. 


21 


1 

4 


'9 


destination.  They  place  beside  the  body  of  the 
deceased  his  bows  and  arrows,  pipes,  and  various 
other  treasures,  that  he  may  have  them  in  the 
other  world.  They  also  place  food  upon  his  grave 
and  build  a  fire  beside  it  that  he  may  cook  it,  and 
thus  have  something  to  sustain  him  during  his 
journey.  One  authority  says  that  in  old  times  the 
spirit  was  supposed  to  be  a  year  upon  his  journey, 
but  that  it  is  now  believed  to  be  accomplished  in 
three  days.  We  cannot  give  the  reason  for  this 
change,  except  it  be  on  account  of  the  introduction 
of  improved  means  of  travel. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  Five  Nations,  in  the  days 
of  their  glory,  could  not  have  sent  four  thousand 
warri(jrs  to  battlo.  Nevertheless,  the  dreaded  con- 
federacy was  truly  formidable  to  the  infant  col- 
onies, and  more  than  once  it  shook  Canada  almost 
from  her  foundations. 


t 


ii 


CHAPTER    II.  " 

CIIAMrLAIN   AND   THE   FIVE   NATIONS. 

The  Indians  whom  the  French  first  encountered 
on  their  settlement  of  the  St.  Lawrence  were  an 
mferior  race  to  ftie  Iroquois,  who  .raised  no  grain, 
and  who,  Uke  all  races  depending  solely  on  the 
chase,  alternated  between  gluttony  and  abject  star- 
vation. The  French  colonists,  during  their  first 
winter  at  Quebec,  saw  one  day  on  the  opposite 
shore  of  the  river  a  group  of  Indians  who  had 
been  driven  by  starvation  to  seek  the  home  of  the 
strangers.  The  river  was  full  of  grinding  blocks 
of  floating  ice,  and  to  all  appearance  impassable. 
The  desperate  creatures,  however,  launched  their 
frail  canoes,  jumped  into  them,  and  began  the  pas- 
sage. They  were  caught  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream  between  the  great  moving  cakes  of  ice.  In 
an  instant  their  light  canoes  v.'ere  ground  to  pow- 
der, and  it  seemed  that  the  occupants  must  be  lost ; 
but  the  quick-footed  Indians,  men  and  women 
with  children  on  their  backs,  had  leaped  upon  a 
passing  block  of  ice  fast  floating  out  to  sea.     Here 


r  1 


f. 


1 


CIIAMPLAIN   AND   THE   FIVE   NATIONS. 


2-^ 


»»' 


their  situation  seemed  no  better,  and  a  despairinj^ 
cry  arose  from  the  unhappy  creatures.  Fortu- 
nately the  block  of  ice,  crowded  by  other  masses, 
touched  for  a  moment  the  northern  shore  of  the 
island,  and  the  agile  Indians  saved  themselves. 
Mere  skeletons  as  they  were,  they  soon  devoured 
the  food  given  them  by  the  French,  and  fell  upon 
a  dead  dog  left  in  the  snow  by  Champlain  as  fox- 
bait. 

It  was  the  wise  policy  of  the  French  to  make 
friends  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  in  which 
they  had  planted  their  weak  little  colony ;  but  in 
becoming  allies  of  the  Algonquin  tribes  of  the 
north  and  the  Hiirons,  they  little  knew  what  pow- 
erful enemies  they  dared  in  the  Five  Nations.  A 
band  of  Indians  encamped  near  Quebec,  after 
heavy  and  improvident  meals  from  their  store  of 
smoked  eels,  falling  into  troubled  slumbers,  would 
see  in  nightmares  the  Iroquois  upon  them,  scalp- 
ing and  torturing.  The  terror-stricken  creatures 
would  rush  to  the  fort  and  implore  admission, 
entirely  unmanned  by  their  portentous  dreams. 

Samuel  de  Champlain,  the  brave  and  adventu- 
rous founder  of  Canada,  desirous  of  making  discov- 
eries which  he  had  not  the  means  to  undertake,  and 
looking  ever,  like  all  the  explorers  of  his  day,  for  a 
route  by  water  to  the  other  ocean,  resolved  to  ac- 


24 


imANT   AxND   RED   JACKET. 


cept  the  invitation  ot  the  neighboring  Indians  to 
join  them  in  their  war  with  the  confederate  nations, 
at  once  binding  these  savages  to  the  French  and 
affording  Champlain  an  escort  into  the  heart  of  the 
continent.        - 

By  the  middle  of  May,  Champlain,  with  eleven 
men  dressed  in  the  light  armor  of  the  time,  con- 
sisting of  a  breastplate  and  backpiece,  the  thighs 
protected  by  steel  armor,  a  plumed  casque  on  the 
head,  a  s,word  at  the  side,  an"  ammunition-box 
strung  across  the  shoulder,  and  in  the  hand  an 
arquebuse,  or  matchlock  gun  of  the  day,  was  pre- 
pared to  join  his  allies  according  to  agreement. 
But  the  tardy  Huron  and  Algon(]uin  Indians  had 
not  appeared.  Champlain,  however,  was  ready  to 
start,  and  he  started,  accompanied  only  by  a  band 
of  Montagnais  Indians.  As  he  sailed  up  the  St. 
Lawrence  in  his  small  shallop,  he  spied  the  smoke 
and  cabins  of  a  savage  encampment,  which  he 
found  to  be  that  of  his  savage  allies  on  th'eir  leis- 
urely way  to  Quebec.  Champlain  moved  toward 
the  cabin  of  the  two  chiefs,  escorted  by  a  gaping 
crowd  of  savages  who  had  never  seen  white  men 
'  ?efore.  Champlain  they  named  "  the  man  with 
ti  e  iron  breast."  After  the  usual  ceremonies  of 
ii  as  ing  and  mutual  speeches  were  concluded,  the 
small  army  moved  on  down  the  river,  for  the  In- 


CIIAMTLAIN    AND    Till:    TIVK    NATIONS.  25 


tlians  must  needs  see  the  fioinc  of  tlie  iron-breasted 
strangers,  of  which  they  had  heard  wonderful  tales. 
At  Quebec,  Chaniplain  alternately  feasted  his  allies 
and  frijj;^htened  theni  with  the  roar  of  cannon  and 
nuisketry.  Merc  the  savai^es  celebrated  their 
hideous  war-dance,  with  uneartlily  yells  and  the 
flourish  of  clubs  and  tomahawks  in  the  ji^laring  lirc- 
liij;"ht.  Champlain,  beini^  one  of  tne  war-party, 
took  part  in  this  wild  revel. 

The  im[)atient  adventurer  was  at  last  })ermitted 
to  lead  his  warriors  away.  Surrounded  by  Indian 
canoes,  the  Frenchman's  shallop  moved  up  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  river  then  called  by  the  name  of 
the  Iroquois,  but  since  known  as  the  Richelieu. 
Here  the  Indians  camped  for  several  days,  fishini^, 
hunting,  feasting,  and  quarrelling,  which  last  occu- 
pation resulted  in  the  desertion  of  three  fourths  of 
the  party.  The  remainder  pushed  on  up  the  Riche- 
lieu, the  shallop  with  a  fair  wind  sailing  far  in  ad- 
vance of  the  paddling  savages,  who  had  assured 
Champlain  of  a  smooth  course  to  the  great  lake 
which  they  had  described  to  him  by  means  of  rude 
charts.  But  the  Frenchmen  at  length  heard  the 
rushing  noise  of  rapids  in  advance.  Ahead  of  them 
they  could  presently  see  the  foaming  water.  Leav- 
ing his  boat  at  the  shore  in  charge  of  four  men, 
Champlain  pushed  on  up  the  river  bank.    Explora- 


i\ 


26 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


tion  only  convinced  him  that  the  rapids  were  im- 
])assable  ;  his  allies  had  deceived  him.  The  canoes 
had  come  np  when  Champlain  returned  to  his 
shallop.  He  rebuked  the  Indians  for  their  lie,  but 
told  them  that  he,  for  his  part,  would  still  keep  his 
pledge.  In  truth,  difficulties  could  not  discourage 
the  discoverer.  I  le  sent  his  shallop  with  the  most 
of  his  men  back  to  Quebec,  while  he,  with  two 
Frenchmen  who  volunteered  to  follow  him,  took 
the  Indian-carry  through  the  forests,  in  company 
with  his  allies.  Before  re-embarking  above  the 
rapids,  the  chiefs  counted  their  forces,  which  con- 
sisted of  sixty  warriors  in  twenty-four  canoes. 

They  were  now  in  the  debatable  land,  the  battle- 
ground of  the  nations.  Ahead  of  the  party  ran 
swift  scouts,  behind  them  marched  the  main  body 
in  silent  Indian  tile,  and  in  the  rear  were  hunters 
busied  in  procuring  game  for  the  band. 

At  night  all  slept  within  a  semicircular  enclosure 
of  logs  thrown  up  for  the  occasion.  No  guards 
were  appointed,  but  the  inevitable  medicine- 
man, or  prophet,  was  consulted  every  evening. 
While  the  rude  fortifications  were  being  built  he 
had  built  himself  a  lodge  of  poles,  fastened  together 
at  the  top,  and  covered  with  dirty  deerskins.  He 
crept  into  his  place, 'and  began  his  mumbhng 
incantations.     Around   him  sat  the    awe-stricken 


i 


CIIAMPLAIN   AND   TIIK   IIVH   NATIONS. 


27 


I 


warriors.  Sik1(1cii)\-  the  mysterious  cal/m  bcij^an 
r(jckii\i(  from  side  to  side.  Behold  ihe  work  of 
t'  2  si)irits!  thought  the  Inchans,  hut  Cliamphiiii 
thought  it  was  the  work  of  the  medieine-man  him- 
self, whose  hands  he  beheved  he  eoukl  see  on  the 
shaking  poles.  '1  his  worthy  went  through  terrihc 
contorti(jns,  ealling  loudly,  in  a  strange  la.nguage, 
to  the  Spirit,  who  answered  in  a  ludicrous  squeal 
from  the  stone  in  which  he  was  believed  to  be 
l)resent.  Champlain  believed  this  to  be  devil-wor- 
ship. 

A  primitive  mode  of  indicating  the  orde^of  bat- 
tle was  used  by  the  Indians  on  this  exi)edition.  A 
chief  took  a  number  of  little  sticks,  and  sticking 
them  in  position  into  the  ground,  gave  each  one 
the  name  of  some  warrior,  the  taller  ones  indicat- 
ing the  chiefs,  thus  designating  the  position  of  each 
warrior  in  battle  without  waste  of  words.  The 
Indians  squatted  around,  studied  for  a  time  this 
toy  army,  and  then  imderst(jod  perfectly  their 
respective  positions. 

Champlain  at  last  entered  the  lake  which  rightly 
bears  his  name.  The  design  of  the  Indians  was  to 
move  on  down  the  lake  to  where  Ticonderosra  now 
Stands ;  from  there  through  Lake  George,  carrying 
their  canoes  from  the  south  end  of  this  lake  into 
the  Hudson,  where  they  might  reach  and  attack 


iJ 


d8 


nUANT    AXn    U1I>    lACKKf. 


some    Mnhnwlv    vill;»i^r.      ^t(^'^nvl^il^^   In  llic   i  ii'Jit 
lav  ll\(*  wild  AdiKMulai  ks,  w  il«l  (\  (II  Mill <  t  Mill  i  inu\ 
nn«l  (ben  ll\(' lunilini;-i;roniitl  ol   llir   luc   Nalinns. 
ri\t'  \\a»  patt\   now   daicd  liaM-l  (Mi1\   al  iii;'Jil. 

Owe  «la\  ll\rv  I'au  (Muampcd  iiol  lar  lioiu  (  "lown 
l\>i!^.f .  1  >  teams  ai  (Mt|  t  lie  ulniosl  iinpot  lance  amiii^- 
savaj^es,  atui  the  ]\\iuc  '\u\\h)\\,\\\\  \Uc  divanua  llic 
nu>f('  inipojtanl  the  dream.  I'.mm  \  s»u  li  si;;n  aixl 
port(M\t  is  waUhrd  r\u\  lor.snllcd  h\  Indians  on  \\\c 
war  path.  McMninj;  ailtM  niorniii!;  ( 'liainplain  had 
hocai  oai;cMl\  ipirstioncd  abonl  his  dicains.  \n\\  his 
oxoiviso  in  tlu^  s\V(hM,  hx^sh  air  had  procnrcd  him  a 
(iroamloss  sloop.  On  this  da  v.  ho\vr\  or,  ho  shrowdiv 
tiix\inu\l  that  ho  saw  tho  Iroipmis  Indians  dtowniniL;* 
in  tlu^  lako  ;  ho  nndortook  to  rosouo  thom.  hnl  I. is 
allios  ti^ld  him  to  loavo  thoni  l>o.  tlu^v  worc^  j^ood 
\^^v  nothinj;".  This  droam.  rooonnli'd  to  tho  Indians 
on  awaking'.  ]>i(>voil  o\ooodini;l\  exhilarating"  and 
tho  happiost  ol  portonts.  idio  war-part  v  omharkod 
at  dusk.  About  ton  tVohndv,  dark  ohjoots  woro  soon 
moving-  on  tho  wator  hoforo  thom.  It.  was  a  partv 
of  Iroquitis  in  ihoir  mo!0  pondorous  olm-bark 
canoos.  whioh  woro  usod  whoro  birch-bark  was 
scarce.  Instantlv  tho  war-whoop  rose  from  botli 
parties.  Tho  Iroquois  })ushod  ashore,  antl  bei;an 
barricading-  themselves  with  tiees  w'hich  they 
felicd.      Meanwhile,   Champlain's    friends    lashed 


ciiamim/Mn;  AN'f)   ifiK  irvr,  nations. 


2t) 


IS 


llu  if  (  .inncs  In^rcf  |)(|-  ;iih1  i  (  iii;iinc(|  nii  llic  w.'ifrT, 
i\     linW'Jiot      llnlil     llir       I  I  u(  |l|( »!'..  Ilx       |||(|i;iim    nil 

slinic  l.iln  (I  (  (I.  1  lie  liidi.'iMS  ill  llir  hnaf';  'l;inM(|  ;is 
iiisolciillv  iis  llii'V  dated  in  llini  had  (tail,  tli<; 
iii^lil  K'sniindcd  willi  laiml;,  lliicals,  hoa^f'.,  and 
sallies  nl  nidc  Indian  wil,  llimun  ha(  k  and  [oitli 
bt'twccn  lli(s<'  ninilal  cncniics.    , 

As  day  da\vn((l,  llic  llncf  I'm  ik  Inn'  n  lay  low  in 
scparalc  Cannes.  In  llie(aily  ni(»ininf',  iIk  tafl  of 
Ixials  a|>|>i(ia(  lied  the  slioie,  and  llie|>a»ly  land(  (I 
{it  sniiie  dislaiKc  Ikmii  llie  li(if|iinis  l»ani(ade.  Out, 
()l  (his  (MkIosiik'  liled  llie  r  iiein  y,  some  |  wo  lnin- 
(Ired  stalwart  warriors,  t Ik  ir  <  liiefs  marked  hy  tlic 
tallest  liead-dresscs.  The  Al^n)n(|iiin  Indians  ho 
^an  to  treinhle.  I  hey  (ailed  lor  their  champion, 
the  man  ol  the  iion  hreast.  (  hani|»lain  passfd 
through  their  ranks,  and  sto()d  in  hill  view  of  the 
ap|)roat:hin|!;-  Inxpiois.  (ireat  was  the  ast(>nish- 
inent  of  these  Indians  at  the  strange  si^^ht,  hut  in 
the  next  instant  there  was  a  Hash,  a  r<;j>'irt,  and 
t  wo  chiefs  fell  dead.  The  hrave  Iro^piois  raised  a 
hideons  wai-whoo|),  and  stood  for  a  moment,  at. 
their  j)()sts,  sending  clouds  of  whi/.zinj^  arrows  into 
the  enemy's  i-anks.  lint  shot  after  shot  from  th(; 
two  ambushed  I'VenchmtMi,  and  more  execution 
h"om  Cdiamplain's  match-lock,  sent  them  flying  in 
terror  at  this  supernatural  warfare.     Fiercely  the 


IN' 


30 


I1K/>\T   AND    Ur.D   JACKKT. 


llll 


victorious  Indians  followed  lliciu,  killed  sonic,  and 
took  some  j)i  isoneis.  The  inexitahlr  si-cjiiel  lol- 
lowcd,  as  il  v.Muld  have  lollowcd  in  tlie  li()(|nois 
eainp  had  tliev  Ik'cmi  Ihe  \iclors.  A  piisoner  was 
pnl  lo  lortnre.  C'hainplain  wanted  lo  send  a  hullc  I 
tln"oiii;li  '.lie  heart  ol  (he  unllinehini;"  victim,  whose 
j;-lorv  w.«s  to  uttei"  not  a  L;roan,  tauntins;"  and  lanta- 
li/iny;  (<)  tlu*  last.  Hut  the  i'renchman  was  relused. 
lie  tinned  and  lied  into  the  woods,  unahle  to  en- 
tlurc  the  cruelty  ol  his  savage  liicuds,  but  he  was 
recalled,  and  permitted  to  end  tlu'  Indian's  misery 
■\vith  his  s;un. 

'J'he  savages  quickly  started  honu^ward  to  enjoy 
lluMr  triumphs  at  tluMrown  yilhii^es.  At  the  mouth 
of  the  Richelieu  the  llurons  and  AlL;'on(|uins  sejia- 
rateil  from  Champlain  and  the  Moiitaii;nais  Intlians, 
fu'st  dividiui^  prisoners  ami  inxitini^  Champlain  to 
join  them  ai;aiu  in  battle. 

While  in  camp  one  ni<:;ht  on  their  lionieward 
journey,  one  of  Champlain's  Indian  com])ani()ns 
dreamed  that  the  still  dreaded  Iroquois  were  upon 
them.  One  and  all,  in  darkness  and  rain,  they 
paddled  to  some  islands  and  hid  themselves  in  the 
rushes.  jNIorning  light  dispelled  their  fears,  and 
they  reached  that  day  their  village,  where  they 
were  met  by  the  squaws,  who  swam  out  into  the 
water  to  receive  with  fiendish  triumph  the  tokens 


CirAMI'l.AIN    A\F)    [III;    I  IVK    NATIONS. 


31 


of  victory.  Chaiuplaiii  liiiiisclf  was  allotcd  ihc 
head  and  arms  of  a  dead  Inxjuois,  vvdiicli  prcduub 
gilts  were  to  be  presented  to  his  king, 


cii\rri-u  111. 


A  liAirii:  IN    '111'  wood: 


CjIAMVI  \in  h.ul.  as  he  s.  :«1.  "(wo  stiii\,i;s  lo  liis 
bow."  \\\c  Mout;ii;n;MS  ln(li;>ns  h.ui  promised  to 
iliiiilo  him  !o  IIihIsimTs  P..i\.  ;uuI  \\\c  llmoiis  lo 
lakr  Www  \o  iUc  (\\ca\  l.aUos  ami  show  liim  roppci- 
mim\s.  l-athtM-  ol  tlu\so  j;rcMl  walors  mii;lil  opi-ii 
the  i\ncti\l  route  to  liuha.  To  cacU  tribr  \\v  had 
prt>mis(.\l.  in  niurn.  to  ti^iil  with  i\\c\w  their  mu- 
tual ontMuios,  the  Indians  ol   tiu^  hive  Nations. 

l>ne  nhi^ht  ha\i^  seen,  on  a  hiii^ht  June  dav  in 
i(MO.  an  island  at  the  mouth  oi  the  Kiehelieu  alive 
with  Indians  in  an  unusual  state  ol  ailivi'.v.  idie 
HuR^nsand  Ali;om|uins  wcmv  expeeted  to  join  them 
in  an  cxpediti(>n  aj^ainst  the  Inujuois.  CMuunplain 
was  already  there,  and  the  i;ri>und  must  be  i  leaicd 
of  trees  lor  a  danee  ami  least.  Some  I'reneh  lur- 
traders  had  just  arrived  at  the  spot,  doubtless  hop- 
ing- tor  brisk  business  on  this  festive  ilav.  vSud- 
ilcnlv  a  solitary  canoe  was  seen  shot)tini2-  tlown  the 
river.  On  it  came,  as  thouirh  the  lives  of  the  In- 
diaiis  within  were  at  stake. 


Ji 


\ 


A    ISA  I  I  l,l':     IN     I  III'-    WOODS, 


ii 


"('oiiic  (|iii(  klv  !"  tlirv  ^li'iiitrd  ;  "llicrr  is  ;i 
j'i(;il  liiilllr.  V\'c  ,iic  limif  tliilli  III'  1 1 ' »' |  ii< )!',,  (miI 
ll)(\  ;iic  hrliiiid  ;i  l»i  cisl  \v<  »i  k  (»l  l<»|'/.,  iiii'l  W'  (  ;iii- 
IK  il    <  (  lilt  |l|('l    I  Imiii." 

'I  Ik  Iii(|i;iii'.  ill  llic(;iii(»c  wcic  inrs' <ii^''('rs  from 
(lie  iillics,  wlio  li;i'l  iiHl.hiil  .1  Ic.'ijmk  from  llicir 
r(ii(lr/\(  (lis,  (Mic  ol  llic  liiiKSu  liini^  vv.ii  p.'irtics  ol 
(lie  I'ivc  Niilioiis,  No  sooner  fi.'id  llic,-  <\<\\\c]  cii 
I  li<ii  iiicssai^c  lliiiti  ;i  Iickc  yell  rose  hom  llir  Mon- 
l;i^ii:iis  I  ii(ll;iiis,  \\  lio  Mi;it(  lir'l  shields  ;iii(l  vve;i[)'»fis 
and  I  n  milled  into  I  heir  eaiioes,  scream  in;;  to  (*ham- 
nlain  and  I  he  Ini  t  radcrs  lo  follow  them.  I  he  hit- 
ter  were  nol  so  inelined,  however. 

"  ^'o^l  :ire  women,  t^ood  for  nothing;  hiil  lo  make, 
war  on  l)ea\cr  skins,"  wasthelaim)  linn;;  hack  at. 
them  as  Ihe  Indians  paddled  away. 

Champlain  and  four  ni(;n  who  were  .'ilica/ly  in 
canoes  sped  alont;  with  the  Indians,  whose  boats 
no  sooner  loiu  lied  shore  than  they  disa|>j)eared  in 
the    woods.     The    i'renchmen,    burdened    with   ar- 


mor, could  not  keej)  up  with  their  Indian  allies, 
whose  war-whoops  ^rew  more  and  more  distant. 
Tliey  soon  found  themselves  alone  on  a  sultry  day 
in  the  midst  of  a  swamp,  in  a  cloud  of  mosf|uitoes 
"which  were  so  thick,"  sa\n  Chanijtlain,  "  that  we 
could  not  breathe,  S(j  cruelly  did  the\  perseci.  . 
us." 


i  i 


I  (I 


34 


15RANT   AND    RED    JACKET, 


SinkinjT  knee -deep  into  the  swampy  ground, 
wadiiii^,  clamberini^,  tripping,  angry,  the  battie 
going  forward,  they  knew  not  where — in  this  ridic- 
ulous i)ositi()n  did  the  Frenchmen  find  themselves.  | 
They  ])resently  spied  some  Indians  running 
through  the  woods,  to  whom  they  called  for  guid- 
ance, and  in  a  short  time  heard  the  distant  howl- 
ing of  an  Indian  battle.  They  ran  toward  a  rude 
clearing  made  by  the  Iroquois  in  building  the 
breastwork  behind  which  they  were  now  at  bay, 
fighting  savagely.  In  the  edges  of  the  forest,  fnjm 
among  the  trees,  fought  the  attacking  allies.  They 
had  just  made  an  imsuccessful  onslaught  on  the 
enemy.  Fierce  }ells  of  encouragement  arose  as 
the  Frenchmen  ap})eared  on  the  scene,  with  an  an- 
swering whoop  from  the  sa\ages  within  the  barri- 
cades. A  stone  arrow-head  s})lit  Champlain's  ear 
and  lodged  in  his  neck.  He  coolly  pulled  it  out, 
and  tiu'ncd  to  do  the  same  for  one  of  his  men  who 
had  met  with  a  like  accident.  In  a  moment  more, 
amid  whizzing  arrows,  the  Frenchmen  ran  up  to 
the  barricade  and  shot  through  the  crevices  at  the 
Iroquois  within.  The  latter  had  not  yet  overcome  \ 
their  terror  of  the  bottled  thunderbolt  which  they 
themselves  would  wield  so  dexterously  in  a  few 
more  v(\nrs.  At  everv  explosion  they  would  throw 
thcmrelvcL;  Hat  upon  the  ground.     Flated,  the  at- 


A  BATTLE    IN  THE  WOODSc 


35 


^M 


tacking  Indians  tore  down  !()<;•  after  lof^  from  the 
stout  barricade.  Chaniplain  had  gathered  a  large 
band  of  warriors  at  the  edcfe  of  the  forest  for  ifie 
final  scaling  of  the  barriers  with  a  rush,  when 
some  traders,  headed  by  a  Frenchman  named  Des 
Prairies,  made  their  appearance,  eager  to  take  part 
in  the  battle. 

Chaniplain  waited  lor  a  moment  in  order  that 
the  traders,  as  he  savs  brutiilly,  "  might  share 
in  the  s[)ort,"  and  then  led  his  wild  attaek  on 
to  the  barricade,  up  and  ovcm-  which  thev  seram- 
bled  brax'elv,  though  sadlv  torn  and  scratched, 
the  Irocjuois  within  leaping  and  writhing  under 
the  liie  of  the  Frenclnneii.  The  barricade  was 
scaled  and  the  deadU'  work  tniished.  The  bat- 
tle   was    won. 

Fifteen  survivors  only  remained  to  be  l)urned 
by  their  captors.  Cham])lain  saved  one  |)ris- 
oner  from  torture,  but  the  remainder  eould 
not  be  rescued  from  their  fiendish  victors.  A 
few  were  reserved  for  the  squaws  at  home, 
who  were  even  more  inventive  in  cruelty  than 
themselves. 

It  was  not  imtil  three  years  after  this  battle  that 
Champlain  claimed  an  escort  of  the  Indians  in  a 
voyage  of  discovery.  This  time  he  ascended  the 
Ottawa  River  in  search  <jf  a  i)assage  to  the  north- 


/;   r 

li 

•  1. 

'1 


36 


CI 


I5Ry\NT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


n  sea  which  an  ini])()st()r  named  Vio-nan,  who 
liacl  lived  sonic  time  among  the  Indians,  pretended 
he  had  found. 


'('Ml 


I 


liii. 


ho 
ed 


1- 


CHAPTER   IV. 

ClIAMl'LAIN   ATTACKS   A   SENECA   TOWN. 

CiTAMPLAiN  saw  his  Indian  allies  "like  brute 
beasts,  without  faith,  without  law,  without  relijrion, 
without  God."  lie  returned  from  one  of  his  voy- 
a<^es  to  France  with  four  Rccollet  friars,  inllanied 
with  zeal  to  carry  the  true  faith  into  the  wilder- 
ness. 

Meantime  the  Indian  tribes  otherwise  separated 
agreed  in  importuning  Champlain  for  aid  against 
the  common  enemy,  the  Five  Nations.  It  was  the 
policy  of  New  France  to  give  this  aid,  and  Cham- 
plain  was  ever  ready  for  new  adventure  and  fresh 
discovery,  He  attended  a  council  of  Ottawa  and 
Huron  Indians,  at  which  they  agreed  to  furnish 
about  twcnty-hve  hundred  men,  to  which  Cham- 
plain  promised  to  add  all  he  could  command,  and 
with  this  force  they  planned  to  strike  a  blow  at 
the  very  heart  of  the  redoubtable  Five  Nations. 
Champlain  went  to  Quebec  to  make  preparations, 
and  when  he  returned  to  Montreal,  where  the 
council   had    been  held,  he  found    that   the  lickle 


'/  .,- 


■I    J 


38 


BRANT   AND   RED   JACKET. 


i 


!  ! 


Indians  had  vanished.  One  of  the  friars,  Father 
J()j^c])h  Lc  Caron,  determined  to  spend  the  winter 
anioni^  the  savages,  had  gone  with  them,  accom- 
panied by  twelve  well-armed  Frenchmen. 

With  Chnmplain,  a  project  once  undertaken  was 
pursued  to  the  end.  Taking  with  him  two  Indians, 
Etienne  Brule,  his  interi)reter,  and  one  other 
Frenchmon.  lie  ascended  the  Ottawa  and  its 
tributary,  ilr  '»ttawan.  He  crossed  the  In- 
dian carry  Jrom  tiiir  stream  to  Lake  Nipissing, 
where  lived  :  -^and  of  Indians  of  this  name,  after- 
wards called  "  the  Sorcerers"  on  account  of  their 
special  devotion  to  witchcraft  and  medicine-men. 
Champlain's  party  descended  the  outlet  of  this 
lake,  and  here  they  suffered  nuicli  from  hunger; 
for  the  im})rovident  Indians  had  swallowed  the 
provisions  destined  for  the  whole  journey,  and 
now  bore  the  consequent  hunger  stoically  enough, 
no  doubt.  The  party  lived  for  days  on  blueberries 
and  raspberries,  which  they  fortimately  found  in 
abundance.  One  day  their  eyes  were  greeted 
with  the  sight  of  Lake  Huron,  which  was  perhaps 
the  north  sea  described  by  Vignan,  he  having 
heard  doubtless  of  its  wide  expanse  from  the  In- 
dians. In  their  light  canoes  the  party  soon  reached 
a  Huron  town  surrounded  by  Indian  corn,  pump- 
kins, and  simllowers.     Here   the   travellers  were 


CHAMri.AlX    ATTACKS   A    SKNECA   TOWN.        39 


C, 


i 


bountifully  feasted.  They  moved  from  town 
to  town  until  they  reached  the  one  of  their  desti- 
nati()n,g-aarded  by  a  triple  palisade  thirty-five  feet 
hi<^h.  At  this  })lace  Friar  Le  Canjn  had  his  winter 
home,  a  cabin  of  bark.  The  friar  and  Chainj)lain 
embraced  when  they  met. 

Mass  was  celebrated  by  the  Frenchmen.  Mean- 
time day  after  day  passed  in  feasting  and  idleness. 
Champlain  became  restless,  and  with  some  of  his 
men  explored  the  neighborini^  country.  At  last 
the  llurons  and  their  allies  had  assembled.  More 
were  to  join  them  in  the  country  of  the  Irocpiois. 
The  army  set  out,  sto])})in<4-  at  one  place  to  fish 
and  at  another  to  hunt  deer.  Five  hundred  In- 
dians formed  in  line,  and,  closinj^  in  around  the 
deer,  drove  them  on  to  a  })oint  where  Indians  in 
canoes  slaughtered  them  as  fast  as  they  took  to  the 
Avater.  The  interpreter,  Etienne  Brule,  volun- 
tarily heading  a  party  of  twelve  Indians  to  hasten 
the  allies  to  the  place  of  rendezvous,  had  parted 
from  the  main  band. 

Crossing  Lake  Ontario,  the  Indians  hid  their 
canoes,  and  the  army  began  its  rapid  silent  liliug 
through  the  woods.  F(jr  four  days  this  steady 
march  was  continued  through  the  country  of  the 
Five  Nations,  one  Iroquois  hshing-partv  of  men, 
women,  and  children   being  captured.      They  at 


l\ 


40 


likWT    ,\\I>    KKI)    lACKKT. 


i}\  i 


t       i 


':A 


I  :! 


niit 


last  caino  upon  llu'  StMUHNi  jowti  of  ihc'w  (Icsliiia- 
tion.  Skiilkiiii''  bi'lriiul  liri's  on  llir  v(.\iic  ol  \\\c 
forest,  \\\v\  could  sec  tlic  Scticcas  <j^alhcriiii^ 
tlicir  liarvcsts  of  liuliaii  corn  and  i)uin|)kiiis. 
Nothiuix  could  restrain  tlic  ini[)ctuosity  of  the  IIu- 
rons.  With  a  wiKl  war-whoop  thcv  rushed  upon 
their  enemies,  wlio,  in  turn,  fid'cely  defended  tlieni- 
selves  and  routed  the  attackini:;  i)arty.  C'iuunphiin 
and  his  conij)anions  were  obUi^yd  to  interlere  from 
thcedi^eof  the  forest  with  a  brisk  fire,  wliicii  foi-ced 
tlie  Senecas  to  retreat  within  tlieii"  town  ;  not, 
however,  until  thev  iiad  seciu'cd  their  dead  and 
woinuleil. 

The  disordered  anil  impulsive  attack  had  now 
closed  the  way  to  any  furthei  surprise;  and  this 
castle  ol  the  Senecas  was  very  h)rmitlable.  Before 
the  besiei;'ers  rose  the  palisaded  walls,  four  rows 
deep  and  thirty  feet  in  height,  surmounted  by  a 
shielded  ii;allery.  The  town  stcK)d  upon  the  shore 
of  a  pond  or  lake,  and  water  was  let  into  it  from 
this  by  means  of  sluices,  wdiile  gutters  wxM"e 
supplied  upon  the  palisades  for  use  in  case  of 
fire. 

Champlain  berated  his  allies  soundl}',  around  the 
evening  camp-fires,  for  their  inconsiderate  attack. 
On  the  folUnving  morning  they  all  set  vigorously 
to  work  under  his  guidance.     Trees  were  hewed 


■5' 


tllAMI'LAIN    A'IIA(  KS    A    SKNKCIA     TOWN.        4I 


down,  and  from  llicni  [i  rude  wooden  tower 
was  hiiill,  liii;lier  than  the  palisades  ol  the  Seneea 
town.  (Ireat,  movable  wooden  sliields,  under  cover 
of  which  the  wallsof  the  town  could  Im'  hred,  were 
made  in  imitation  of  tliose  used  in  the  middle 
a.Lces.  One  can  imai^ine  the  astonishment,  of  the 
lro([uois  warriors  as  tliey  watched  tliis  work.  In 
a  lew  hours  all  was  done,  and  the  assault  hei^an. 
'J\vo  hundred  of  tl:e  stronj^^est  Indians  bravely 
dra.i;,L,^ed  the  tower  to  within  a  pike's  leni^th  of  the 
town.  Three  I'retichmen  mounted  to  the  top  of 
tliis  struetuie  and  opened  Tiie  upon  the  imnates. 
The  elated  besie<^a'rs  were  frantic;  nothini^  could 
control  them.  Shoutin<;,  leapin,i,s  and  dancin.i;  in 
every  form  of  disorder,  their  arrows  rattled  around 
the  well-defended  town,  from  which  they  were 
answered  with  showers  of  stones.  In  their  eai^er- 
ness  they  abandoned  the  movable  shields  desi,i^ned 
to  cover  attem})ts  to  lire  the  palisades.  One  bold 
warrior  ran  forward,  unshieliled,  with  firebrands. 
He  was  followed  by  others  with  cr)mbustible  ma- 
terial. A  lire  was  built  at  the  foot  of  the  pali- 
sades, but  Hoods  of  water  (juickly  descended  upon 
it  from  above.  Champlain  tried  to  nuister  his 
forces  into  somethiUL;-  like  order.  It  was  of  no  use. 
Fverv  w^arrior  had  his  owji  opinion  as  to  what 
should    be   dc^ne.      Every    warrior    shouted,     and 


i 


42 


IJRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


iii 


Champlain  could  not  licar  liis  own  voice  in  the 
confusion. 

After  three  hours  the  attack  was  al:)an(h)ned. 
Seventeen  Indians  were  wounded,  and  Chani])lain 
himself  was  disabled  with  two  arrows  in  liis  lej^s. 
The  savaj^es  were  now  as  disheartened  as  they  had 
been  elated.  It  was  a  gl(K)iTiy  concourse  which  vSat 
around  the  evening-  canij)-fire.  Champlain  urged 
a  renewed  attack,  but  the  Indians  w(ndd  not  budge  ; 
so  easily  is  Indian  courage  damj^ed.  They  re- 
solved to  wait  the  arrival  of  the  hve  hundred  al- 
lies who  were  expected  to  meet  them  here.  •  For 
five  days  they  waited,  spending  the  time  in  skir- 
mishing, and  then  the  hckle  army  filed  away,  at- 
tacked fiercely  in  the  rear  by  the  Senecas.  The 
wounded  were  carried  off  doubled  up  into  baskets 
and  strapj)ed  upon  the  backs  of  Indians.  We  can 
imagine  the  impatience  of  Champlain,  who  was  still 
among  the  wounded,  and  who,  as  he  says,  could 
"no  more  move  than  an  infant  in  swaddlinsf- 
clothes."  Never  was  a  man  perhaps  in  a  more 
uncomfortable  position.  "  I  lost  all  patience," 
says  he,  "  and  as  soon  as  I  could  bear  my  weight 
T  got  out  of  this  prison,  or,  to  speak  plainly,  out  of 
hell." 

Meantime  where  was  Etienne  Brule,  the  intrepid 
messenger  to  the  allies  ?    After  leaving  the  main 


CHAMPLAIN   ATTACKS   A   SENECA   TOWN.       43 

body  of  warriors,  he  and  his  companions  had 
crossed  Lal<e  Huron  and  })icked  tlieir  way  throui;h 
the  forests,  avoidin^i;-  paths  and  trails,  for  they  were 
in  the  Seneca  country.  They  nevertheless  suc- 
ceeded in  niakinjLj  some  Iroquois  priscjners,  which 
they  carried  to  the  town  where  the  allies — prob- 
ably Erics — lived.  Here,  th()u<;h  but  three  days' 
march  from  the  besieged  town,  the  Frenchman 
must  needs  be  feasted  and  entertained,  and  when 
the  battle-g-round  was  reached  the  besiegers  were 
gone. 

Brule  must  spend  the  winter  among  the  Indians, 
but,  adventurer  as  he  w^as,  he  was  not  averse  to 
this.  He  spent  his  time  in  exploring  a  kirge  river, 
probably  the  Susquehanna. 

In  the  spring  several  Indians  offered  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  country  of  the  llurons  on  his 
homew^ard  journey.  As  they  were  marching 
through  the  enemies'  country  a  band  of  Irocpiois 
suddenly  rushed  u])on  them.  The  i)arty  scat- 
tered. Brule  ran  from  his  pursuers  deep  into  the 
woods  and  found  himself  ahjne  and  saved,  but  only, 
as  it  seemed,  to  die  of  hunger.  For  days  he  wan- 
dered, and  at  last  came  upon  an  Indian  foot-path. 
Preferring  to  risk  the  Iroquois  rather  than  to  starve, 
he  followed  the  path.  He  saw  ahead  three  Indians 
bearing  freshly-caught  fish.     Brule  called  to  them 


44 


I^RANT  AND    RED  JACKET, 


in  the  Huron  lan^iia^c,  which  was  allied  to  the 
Iroquois.  Astonished  at  his  strant^e  costume  and 
arms,  his  pale  face  and  beard,  the  Indians  be^an 
to  run  from  him.  But  the  starving  Frenchman 
flung  down  his  arms  and  told  the  story  of  his 
hunger.  The  Indians  turned  back,  smoked  a  peace- 
pipe  with  him,  led  him  to  their  village,  and  fed 
him.  Me  was  surrounded  by  an  amazed  crowd  of 
Iroquois.  *   ■ 

"  Where  did  you  come  from  ?"  said  they.  "  Are 
you  not  one  of  the  men  of  iron  who  make  war  on 
us? 

"  No,"  answered  Brul6,  "  I  am  of  a  nation  better 
than  the  French,  and  friends  to  the  Five  Nations." 

But  the  Indians  did  not  believe  him.  The  evi- 
dence was  against  him,  and  they  determined  to 
burn  their  victim.  The  chief  endeavored  to  save 
his  life,  but  the  bloodthirsty  savages  must  have 
their  way.  Brul6  was  tied  to  a  tree,  tortured  with 
firebrands,  and  his  beard  was  pulled  out  by  the 
handful.  The  prisoner  wore  around  his  neck  an 
Agnus  Dei.  One  of  the  Indians  asked  what  it  was, 
and  tried  to  snatch  ;'- 

"If  you  touch  that,"  said  Brule,  "you  and  all 
your  people  will  die." 

But  the  Indian  was  determined  to  touch  it.  It 
was  one  of  those  oppressive,  sultry  days  which 


!■  J 


CIIAMPLAIN   ATTACKS   A    SKNKCA   TOWN.       45 

precede  a  thunder-storm.  Brul6  solemnly  pointed 
to  the  black  clouds,  uhicli  had  swept  minoticetl 
into  the  sky,  as  signs  of  the  anger  of  his  God.  A 
fierce  storm  broke,  and  the  savages,  struck  with 
superstitious  fear,  fled.  Their  victim  must  have 
been  indeed  grateful,  as  he  stood  under  the  drench- 
ing shower  still  bound  to  the  tree.  The  friendly 
chief  returned,  after  a  time,  and  set  him  free. 
From  this  time  on  Brul6  was  flieir  companion  at 
feast  and  dance,  and  doubtless  s{)ared  no  pains  to 
make  himself  agreeable  to  his  Iroquois  hosts. 
When  at  last  he  escaped,  and  reached  again  his 
home  in  the  little  colony,  his  face  was  marked  with 
the  scars  of  his  burning,  and  he  was  probably  then 
dubbed  Etienne  Brule,  or  Etiennc  the  Burned,  the 
name  by  which  he  has  come  down  to  us  in  history. 
Champlain  himself  had  had  his  adventures  ere  he 
returned  to  Quebec.  On  reaching  the  home*  of  the 
Huron  Indians,  the  chief  would  fain  have  allowed 
him  an  escort,  but  the  w^arriors,  in  the  free- 
dom of  Indian  democracy,  wxre  none  of  them  in- 
clined to  undertake  the  guidance  of  Champlain. 
He,  too,  must  spend  the  winter  with  the  Indians. 
He  accompanied  them  on  their  fall  hunt.  At  one 
time  he  was  lost.  He  had  wandered  away  to  shoot 
a  bird  of  bright  plumage.  For  several  days  he 
travelled  through  the  woods,  despairing  of  ever  find- 


I  ;■ 


•liii 


111 


46 


BRANT   AxNI)    KKD    lACKF/I". 


iiiiX  the  camps  of  liis  friends.  I  leal  last  foiiiul  a  tiny 
stream  wliicli  ho  resolved  to  follow,  hopini;-  it 
niij;lit  lead  to  the  liver  o!)  whieh  the  Indians  were 
encami)ed.  lie  followed  this  stream,  walked 
around  the  borders  of  a  lake  into  whieh  it  lan, 
followed  it,  ai;ain  as  it  ran  out,  and  at  len.i;th  came 
upon  the  very  eamp  he  was  seekini;-,  to  the  j^ieat 
jov  of  the  Indians,  who  never  allowed  C'haiuplain 
to  i^o  olT  alone  ai;ain. 

The  winter  was  sjient  in  vcn'a^ces  of  discovery, 
in  w  hieh  the  explorer  soui^ht  to  extend  the  trade 
of  his  colony,  lie  was  at  one  time  called  upon  to 
settle  an  Indian  quarrel  whieh  threatened  to  result 
seriously.  The  llurons  had  presented  the  Ottawas 
with  an  Iroquois  prisoner,  that  they  miij^ht  have 
the  pleasure  ol  torturini;'  him.  The  latter  Indians, 
however,  adojited  the  Iroquois  and  treated  him 
kindly.  The  llurons  were  enraged,  and  one  of 
t'neir  warriors  stabbed  the  prisoner  in  the  very 
face  of  the  chiefs  who  had  adopted  him,  and  they, 
in  turn,  shot  the  murderer  through  and  through 
•with  arrows.  This  seemed  likelv  to  be  a  fruitful 
source  of  trouble,  and  war  between  the  tribes 
would  cut  off  much  of  the  colony's  trade  with  the 
Indians.  A  collision  had  already  taken  place  wdvjn 
Champlain  w^as  called  on  to  act  as  umpire.  He 
met  the  hostile  chiefs  in  solemn  council,  spoke  to 


'.  m 


I  ^ 


CIIAMI'I.AIN    A'l  lACKS    A    SKNKCA     I  OWN. 


47 


them  of  the  folly  of  division  rinionj^''  themselves 
when  the-  eonnnoii  ciR'Hiy,  the  I'ive  Nations,  stood 
ready  to  destioy  tliem.  lie  ur«;ed  them  to  shake 
jiands  and  be  brothers  again.  I^eaee  was  made, 
gifts  of  vvami)um  were  exehanged  in  reparation  for 
ail  injuries  done,  and  the  ehiefs  of  both  nations 
smoked  together  again.  Cliamplain  at  last  reaehed 
Quebee,  where  he  was  received  as  one  risen  fnjui 
the  dead. 


n  1 

i  ;  ;  ;  » 


111 


i  1: 


PI 


i! 


ti  * 


CHAPTER  V 

AN   INDIAN'S   REVENGE. 

The  Hurons  and  their  tribes  of  allies  felt  them- 
selves powerless  against  the  ev^er-encroaching  Iro- 
quois. There  is  a  story  in  the  early  annals  of  the 
Six  Nations  which  shows  with  what  a  death-gripe 
the  Hurons  and  Algoncjiiins  fought  their  great 
enemy.  Some  of  the  war -chiefs  of  the  latter  In- 
dians, who  felt  themselves  helpless  in  more  open 
warfare,  had  resolved  to  effect  what  they  could  by 
stratagem.  Among  them  was  Piskarct,  the  inmic- 
diatc  cause  of  whose  revem^^eful  hate  was  the  burn- 
ing  of  one  of  his  brother-chiefs  at  the  hands  of  the 
Iroquois.  Pi'ovided  with  guns  purchased  from  the 
French,  Piskarct  and  four  other  chiefs  set  out  in 
search  of  the  enemy.  They  paddled  up  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  into  the  Richelieu  River,  where  they 
saw  five  Iroquois  canoes.  Believing  the  chiefs  to 
be  the  forerunner  of  a  large  force,  the  Iroquois  at  j 
first  attempted  to  escape,  but  when  they  saw  no 
more  follow,  they  gave  their  war-whoop  and 
ordered  the  chiefs  to  surrender. 


M 


V 


AN   INDIAN  S    REVENGE 


49 


V 


"  I  am  already  your  prisoner,"  answered  Piska- 
rct,  "  and  1  can  no  long^er  survive  the  death  of  my 
companion  whom  you  have  burned ;  but  that  I  may 
not  be  accused  of  cowardice,  come  out  into  the 
middle  of  the  river." 

Piskaret's  guns  had  been  previously  loaded  with 
two  bullets  joined  together  with  a  wire,  and  de- 
signed to  tear  in  pieces  the  birch-bark  canoes  of 
the  Iroquois.  These  Indians  paddled  swiftly  into 
the  centre  of  the  stream. 

"  Each  man  choose  his  canoe,"  said  Piskaret  to 
his  companions. 

As  the  Iroquois  approached,  Piskaret  made  a 
feint  of  trying  to  escape.  The  Iroquois'  canons 
separated  in  order  to  surroimd  the  enemy,  who 
now  sung  their  death -song  in  feigned  despair. 
Suddenly  the  dreaded  matchlocks  were  raised, 
each  man  levelled  at  a  canoe,  and  the  report  echoed 
in  the  distant  woods.  The  Indians  of  the  Five 
Nations  had  not  }'et  overcome  their  dread  of  fire- 
arms. Terror-stricken,  they  tumbled  out  of  their 
sinking  canoes.  Piskaret  and  his  companions 
quickly  despatched  them  in  the  water,  with  the 
exception  of  several  chiefs,  who  were  doomed  to 
underi^o  a  similar  death  to  that  of  Piskaret's 
friend. 

But  Piskaret's  revenge  was  far  from  being  sati- 


50 


TKANT    ANT)    Kl  O   JACK  FT. 


*U 


ii 


Ii 


lit 


atcd.  No  one  was  found  hold  cnou,<^li  lo  follow 
hin)  in  liis  next  cxpcdilion.  1  \v  slailt'd  out  in  llic 
(."ailv  spring",  wlu-n  ihc  sno\v  had  hcii^un  lo  int'lt. 
I  fc  put.  his  snow-shoes  im  hackwards  —  a  favorite 
trick  with  the  Indians  to  deceive  people  as  to  the 
direction  they  have  taken.  I'iskaret  also  walked 
lor  some  distance  aloni;-  a  hai'e  ridi;-e.  When  he 
came  within  sii;ht  of  one  of  the  vilhiij^es  of  the  Five 
Nations,  he  iiid  in  a  hollow  twc  luitil  nij^ht,  when 
he  slij^peil  out.  and  selected  a  place  where  four  ])iles 
of  wood,  placed  close  lojj^ether,  left  a  small  opening- 
in  the  centre.  When  every  one  was  fast  asleej), 
I'iskaret  entered  the  villa^-e,  walked  into  the  first 
cabin,  and  killin<^  four  persons,  retired  to  his  hole 
with  their  scalps.  The  Iroquois  were  m  a  great 
commotion  on  the  followini^  mornini^.  They  soon 
discovered  the  footsteps  of  I'iskaret,  which,  seem- 
ing to  lead  away  from  tlie  villages,  wx^re  supposed 
to  be  the  track  of  the  murderer  who  had  escaped. 
The  vounix  men  of  the  \  illaire  followed  this  track 
in  hot  [Hirsuit  until  they  came  to  the  bare  ridge, 
where  they  lost  it.  On  the  h)llow^ing  night  Fiska- 
ret  again  entered  a  cabin,  and,  killing  the  inhabi- 
tants, returned  to  his  wood -pile.  Again  there  was 
a  great  outcry  in  the  morning.  All  ran  in  quest  of 
a  track,  but  none  was  to  be  seen  except  that  of  the 
previous  day.      They  sought  in  the  forests  and 


,  ♦ 


AN    INDIAN  S    RICVFNr.T-:. 


51 


s\vanii)S  and  clefts  in  the  rocks,  but  no  si^n  of  a 
liuiiian  l)''in<^  could  he  iound.  I'lieii  llie  iiidiaiis 
hciXan  to  suspect  tlu"  hand  of  I'iskarct,  whom  they 
knew  alread)'  too  well,  in  so  hold  and  wily  an  at- 
tack. The  next  nii^ht,  when  I'iskaret  slij)|)ed  into 
the  town,  he  saw  that  there  were  guards  'n  (;very 
cahin.  But  in  otu;  he  discovered  a  sentinel  noddin;^ 
over  his  j^ipe.  I  le  resolved  to  strike  his  last  blow. 
With  his  bundle  of  scalps  un(U;r  his  ai^n.,  he  ent(T(.'d 
and  struck  the  Indian  dead  with  his  hatchet.  Hut 
a  <riiard  in  the  other  end  of  the  cahin  raised  the 
alarm.  Piskaret  Hed,  pursued  by  the  Irofjuois. 
But  according-  to  the  story,  I'iskaret  was  so  swift 
on  his  feet  as  to  run  down  deer  and  buffalo.  Now, 
Avhen  his  pursuers  approached  him,  he  would  i^ive 
them  an  enc()ura<^ing"  whoop,  and  then  spriiiL^  from 
them  and  be  out  of  their  sii^ht  in  a  moment. 

The  five  or  six  youni;-  men  who  iiad  persisted  in 
the  chase,  beini^  worn  out  with  hun^-erand  fati<^ue, 
stopped,  when  nig^ht  came  on,  to  rest,  and  were 
Sf)on  asleep.  Meantime  I'iskaret  was  hidden  in  a 
hollow  tree,  watchini^  their  movements,  and  when 
everything  was  quiet  lie  slipped  upon  the  sleeping 
warriors  and  killed  them  all.  Nevertheless  the 
Iroquois  afterwards  secured  the  head  of  this  in- 
domitable warrior  in  one  oi  their  raids  into  his 
country,  in  which  they  massacred  and  captured 
hundreds  of  his  peoi)le. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


A   PRISONER   AMONG   THE   FIVE   NATIONS. 


!         ! 


Some  of  the  incidents  sufficiently  illustrate  the 
whole  of  the  long  wars  of  the  Iroquois,  which  de- 
vastated nation  after  nation  of  Indians  and  cramped 
and  harassed  the  French  colony,  cutting  off  the 
trade  with  friendly  tribes  upon  which  it  depended, 
and  making  victims  of  many  of  her  bravest  men. 
The  Five  Nations,  and  cs})ccially  the  Mohawks, 
had  now  become  all  too  familiar  with  fire  arms 
through  their  trade  with  the  Dutch,  with  whom 
they  were  on  very  friendly  terms. 

The  experiences  of  Father  Jogues,  a  gentle  and 
scholarly  Jesuit,  were  those  of  many  other  captives. 
The  missionary,  accompanied  by  two  devoted 
young  laymen,  Goupil  and  Couture,  with  some 
eleven  canoes  of  Huron  Indians,  was  on  his  way 
to  the  home  of  these  savages,  where  a  mission  had 
been  planted.  As  they  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence, 
the  Iroquois  war-whoop  resounded  through  the 
still  air,  and  canoes  shot  forth  from  their  hiding, 
place  along  the  banks.     Many  of  the  Hurons  de- 


A    rRISONF.R   AMONr,   THE    FIVE   NATIONS.      53 


vScrtcd  their  companions,  though  some  stood  their 
[ground  and  fought  witli  the  French.  But  more 
Irocjuois  a))|)cared  from  the  opposite  shore,  and  tlic 
little  band  took  refuge  in  flight.  Goupil  and  sev 
cral  Christian  Ilurons  were  captured.  Father 
Jogues  had  escaped  into  the  rushes;  but  when  lie 
saw  his  Hock  in  the  clutches  of  the  enemy,  he 
returned  and  gave  himself  up.  Couture  also 
returned,  resolved  to  share  the  fate  of  his  friends. 
The  Indians  rushed  at  him;  one  of  them  attempted 
to  shoot  him,  but  his  gun  missed  fire,  and  Couture, 
in  his  turn,  shot  the  savage  down.  The  others 
rushed  ii})()n  the  ^oimg  man,  tore  off  his  clothes, 
ran  a  sword  through  his  hand,  and  gnawed  and 
mutilated  his  fingers.  The  tender-hearted  Jesuit, 
S})ringing  toward  his  companion,  threw  his  arms 
around  his  neck;  in  a  moment  more  the  Indians 
laid  him  senseless  with  their  heavy  blows.  When 
he  returned  to  consciousness,  they  cut  and  bit  his 
hands  like  those  of  his  friend. 

Those  who  had  been  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  In- 
dians soon  returned  with  a  number  of  captives,  and 
the  party  departed,  after  having  killed  at  a  blow  an 
old  man  whom  Jogiics  had  just  baptized  with  his 
mutilated  hands,  and  who  had  refused  to  leave  the 
spot.  Through  the  Richelieu  they  journeyed  to 
Lake   Champlain,   the    prisoners   tormented    with 


54 


IJKANT   AND    KF.T)    TACKKT. 


their  wounds  and  the  attacks  of  mosquitoes.  On 
the  lake  tliey  met  a  hir<^e  haiul  of  Inxjuois  Ijound 
for  battle.  There  was  nuitual  rejoicin*^  among-  the 
Indians,  and  the  prisoners  were  forced  to  run  the 
jj^auntlet  for  the  amusement  of  these  warriors. 
Father  Jogues  fell  senseless  in  the  midst  of  this  tor- 
ture, bruised  and  bleedin;^  from  head  to  foot.  Fire 
was  subse([uently  ap])li'jd  to  his  body  in  various 
])laces,  and  his  hands  ag^ain  undej'went  torture. 
The  brave  Christian  Huron  chief,  also  a  captive, 
Vv^as  treated  with  even  more  liorrible  barbarity. 

The  poor,  bruised  Jesuit  was  the 'first  white  man 
who  saw  the  waters  of  Lake  George,  to  which  he 
gave  its  ancient  name  of  Lac  St.  Sacrement.  At 
the  head  of  the  lake,  the  Indians  started  out  by 
foot,  the  wounded  prisoners  staggering  under 
heavy  loads,  while  both  captives  and  captors  suf- 
fered greatly  from  hunger.  As  they  neared  the 
first  Mohawk  town,  they  were  greeted  by  exultant 
crowds  of  savages,  and  were  immediately  forced  to 
run  the  gauntlet.  In  this  race  Jogues  once  fell 
fainting,  but  recovered  his  feet  and  ran  on.  The 
Frenchmen  had  rcceiv^ed  the  heaviest  blow\s,  and 
were  bruised  and  mancrled  from  head  to  foot.  On 
reaching  the  town,  the  prisoners  wxu'e  placed  on  a 
scaffold  amid  a  taunting  crowd.  For  a  few  mo- 
ments they  took  breath,  when  a  chief  shouted  to 


lit 


I 


"i 


H 


A   PRISONER   AMONG   TFIE    TTVE   NATIONS.      55 

the  otlicrs  to  come  and  "caress"  the  prisoners. 
This  was  a  common  j)lH-ase  anionj^  tiie  Indians  for 
tiie  tortures  to  which  tiiey  i)ut  their  enemies.  The 
Indians  now  fell  upon  tlie  captives,  puttin*^  them  tv) 
every  conceivable  form  of  nuitilation  and  t(3rment 
which  wi)uld  still  leave  them  alive.  After  this 
they  were  taken  down,  laid  upon  their  backs,  and 
their  hands  and  feet  tied  to  stakes  driven  in  the 
^•round,  the  universal  mode  among  the  Indians  of 
chaining  a  })risoner.  Here  the  savage  cliildren 
continue  their  torture  bv  placing  hot  ashes  and 
live  coals  upon  their  bodies. 

The  ])rogramme  was  much  the  same  in  each  of 
the  three  fortified  towns  of  the  Mohawks  ;  for  the 
Indians  must  exhibit  their  captives  to  all  their 
countrymen.  Once  Jogues  was  himg  by  the 
wrists,  but  as  he  w\as  on  the  point  of  fainting,  an  In- 
dian pitied  him  and  cut  him  down.  Cruel  as  these 
savages  were,  they  were  not  ahva}'s  without  the 
imj)ulse  of  pity.  But  the  torturing  of  prisoners, 
and  even  cannibalism,  were  a  part  of  the  barbarous 
customs  which  were  so  inexorable  among  the  In- 
dians. The  custom  of  torture  was  alwavs  perpet- 
uated by  the  desire  for  retaliation  and  the  neces- 
sity for  revenge  in  the  Indian  superstition.  In  every 
.  Iroquois  town  were  many  Indians  who  had  lost 
friends  by  the  most  horrible  death  at  the  hands  of 


I 


f 


5^> 


IJKAN'I*    AM)    ki:i)    lACKKI'. 


I 


tlir  I'lu'im  .  It  was  a  pari  of  lluMr  licalliniism  lliat. 
tlu'sc  friends  wvvv  hrlicvcd  to  hv  h:\\)\)\vv  in  tin; 
future  life  if  their  deiith  were  revenii^ecl.  Plius 
piisoners  must  be  vSaerificed  not  only  to  satisly  the 
natural  barbarity  of  the  coinniunity,  but  also  to 
(|uiet  the  injured  relatiyes  in  anotiier  world. 

In  eyery  sufferiuL:^  tlie  missionary  Jesuits  neyer 
forn^ot  their  trust.  Helieyin*^  that  souls  eould  only 
be  sayed  by  baptism,  they  took  e-very  oi^portunity 
thus  to  insure  a  ha})|)v  future  for  the  heathen 
around  them.  Father  Jo<;ues,  with  tortured  and 
fainting-  body,  was  on  the  scaffold  when  four  fresh 
Huron  captiyes  were  brought  in  and  placed  beside 
him.  lie  immediately  set  to  work  to  conyert  his 
fellow-sufferers,  and,  with  a  few  dro})sof  rain  which 
he  foujid  on  an  ear  of  green  corn  Ayhich  was 
thrown  to  him,  Jogues  baptized  two  of  them. 
When  the  i)aiM  y  were  moying  for  another  town,  he 
baptized  the  other  two  while  passing  through  a 
brook. 

The  young  man  Couture  had  gained  the  admira- 
tion of  these  fierce  warriors  for  his  couracfc,  not- 
withstanding  their  rage  at  him  for  killing  one  of 
'their  number.  After  passing  through  the  most 
horrible  tortures,  he  was  adopted  into  an  Indian 
family  in  the  i)lace  of  a  dead  relative.  A  council  , 
was  held  oyer  Jogues  and  Goupil,  but  no  decision 


m 


li 


1 


A    PKTSONKR   AMONf;    TIIK    KIVF    NATIONS.      57 


;  ^.i 


was  arrived  at.  The  captives  were  taken  hack  to 
the  tirst.  Mohawk  town,  to  live  in  shiveiy  and  con- 
stant dani^erof  their  hves.  Meanwhile  Joi;ues  hap- 
tized  dyinij^  infants,  and  the  younj^  ni;ui  tanij^ht  chil- 
dren to  make  the  si<;n  of  the  cross.  'I'lie  Indians, 
su{)erstitions  as  they  were,  were  often  loused  to 
snspicion  by  this  mysterious  sii^n.  Goupil  had 
made  it  on  tlie  forehead  (A  a  ij^iandchild  of  an  old 
Indian  who  was  his  master,  and  who  seein<r  it,  and 
having-  been  told  by  some  Dutchman  that  the  sii^n 
of  the  cross  had  to  do  with  the  devil,  believed  that 
the  child  had  been  bewitched.  A  suspicion  of 
witchcraft  amonjj^  the  Indians  will  inevitably 
cause  tiie  death  of  the  suspected  person,  and  none 
dare  take  his  part  lest  he  also  be  proclaimed  a 
witch.  jo<4"ues  and  Goupil  had  ^^one  into  the  woods 
for  a  walk,  prayini;-  and  consoling  one  another  in 
the  Hving-  martyrdom  which  they  endured.  As 
they  returned  toward  the  town,  they  were  met  and 
joined  by  two  youn^^  warriors  with  an  evil  look 
on  their  stolid  faces.  As  they  ncared  the  village, 
a  hatchet  suddenly  gleamed  from  beneath  the 
blanket  of  one  of  the  Indians,  and  Goupil  fell  to 
the  ground  with  the  name  of  Jesus  on  his  lips.  We 
cannot  but  be  glad  that  the  young  man's  death 
.  was  so  merciful.  Jogucs  kneeled  beside  his  friend, 
praying    and    awaiting   a   like    death,    when    the 


t 


if     !! 


m 


\]\ 


5« 


HUANT   AM)    KF1>   JACKKT. 


Tndl.'inR  snddiMilv  told  liiin  to  ^o  lioni(\  Ilavini^ 
svvw  llir  l)od\  ot  Ins  liicMxl  ( I i;i !;•<;(•( I  lliroiiL;li  the 
town,  |ol;iics  spent  tlic  iiii^ht  in  j^riil  over  his  hc- 
reaviinrul.  In  ll\e  niornini;,  rarini^  little  lor  his. 
own  lile,  the  Jesuit  started  to  seek  his  fiiend's  re- 
mains. 

*'  Where  are  v<'i>  i^<>''V!4^  ^*'  f*'^^  f*"  demanded  the 
old  Indian  who  had  caused  Cioupil's  death. 
*'  Don't  von  see  those  rurce  youn^  braves  who  are 
watehiui;'  to  kill  \'ou  ?" 

Hut  Jollies  eared  not,  and  the  old  man,  |)rol)al)ly 
imwillinix  to  lose  a  slave  who  was  not  a  witch,  took 
with  him  another  Indian,  and  followed  the  Jesuit 
to  i)rotect  liin\  ai^ainst  the  bloodthirsty  yonntj;  men. 

Joi^ues  founil  the  poor  mans^led  body  in  a  nei'^h- 
borinj;-  ravine,  where  a  little  stream  ran.  I  le  diew 
it.  into  the  bn)ok  anil  covered  it  with  stones,  that 
the  doi^s  might  not  i;et  at  it,  hopinjj^  to  escape  from 
the  town  and  bury  it  w  here  it  would  not  be  dis- 
turbed. A  severe  storm  swelled  the  little  stream 
to  a  flood,  and  when  Joii^ues  cre])t  forth  in  the  early 
mornins:^  to  seek  his  dead,  he  fonnd  the  body  goi"-. 
He  waded  into  the  icy  water,  he  looked  among  i  j 
rocks  and  in  the  forest,  but  he  could  not  fmd  the 
corpse.  The  gentle-hearted  priest  kneeled  by 
tlie  roaring  brook,  and,  with  tears  and  groans, 
chanted   the   service  of  the  dead.     Long  months 


4 


\* 


A    I'UrSONKR   AMONC   THK   FIVp:   NATTONR.      59 


aftcrwanls  lie  found  I  lie  holies  of  his  friend  in  .1 
lonesome  spot  ulicrc"  llir  pililess  huhans  had 
tliiown  Ihe  hoily,  and  j<>,i,nies  liad  tlie  satisfaction 
ul  <;atIiei-inL;-  tlieni  n|»  and  lii(hni^  tliein. 

Afte!'  t!ie  dcalli  of  his  companion,  tlie  h"^>''' 
would  f^lacHv  l>;i\('  died  also,  and  indrcd  he  was 
monu'nl:nil\-  threatened  with  death.  'I  he  •^'•eritle, 
studious  priest  was  no  ohjc ct  ol  admiration  to  the 
wild  wairiois.  Thev  could  appreciate  the  hravc 
Couture,  who  had  killed  one;  ol  his  captors  hefore 
lie  was  taken,  hut  this  meek  man  who  slaved  for 
them  like  a  s(|uaw,  who  relused  \n  cat  their  meat. 
because  they  had  offered  it  to  their  ^ods,  who 
crouched  silcMit:  and  miserahic  in  his  ra^L(ed  skins 
at  their  fireside,  i)earin<j;-  abuse  and  burdens  j)a- 
tienlU,  but,  risini;-  lo  slern  and  reckless  indignation 
when  the\'  lidiculed  his  iclii^ion  this  man  was  a 
despicable  object  to  the  Mohawk  braves,  and  was 
cspcciall\-  hated  l)y  the  women. 

Once  when  joi^ues  was  absent  from  the  villa^-e 
with  a  lishin<]^-party,  a  messens^-er  arrived  j^retend- 
ini;'  that  si.^'ns  of  tlie  enemv  had  been  seen,  but  in 
realitv  telliiiij;'  lojnies'  master  that  a  war-ixirty 
wliich  had  gone  out  against  the  Fi-ench  was  de- 
feated and  destroyed,  and  that  vengeance  must  be 
wreaked  on  the  head  of  the  Jesuil.  I>ut  on  leach- 
ing the  town,  the  party  louiid  that  IrcbU  ucws  had 


fio 


nUANT   AND    Ki:n    lArKF.'l'. 


arrivod  :  (ho  \v;n  liofs  wvw  H\f\v  mul  nn  iImmi  jnimu'y 
ol  1 1  iiMuph,  w  it h  tiKiin  pn.sniKMS.  InjMics'  lilc  was 
s;\\r»l  U)v  (his  (inu\  h\it  he  womIiI  i;i(hn  h.i\c  (hr<l 

,  (h.ni  to  \\i(noss  (ho  (oMiiios  and  tirath  ol  <  aplivcs, 
sonu^ituos  ooi\vii((hI  Indians  and  aUios  ol  the 
Imxmu  h.  and  sonu  tinu^s  his  ow  n  ronnl  i  \  inon. 

Thus  |i)i;nos  li\o»l,  to  \)v  sacriru-od  il  ho(|nois 
;\n\\s  laiU^l,  hn(  s.ntd  il  (lu-\  woi^  vicloiions. 
Moandnio  ho  ha^l  boon  now  noai  In  a  Near  anioni;  I  ho 
Mohawks,  and  as  (lu  \  hatl  »»o  ioat  ol  his  osoapin^v* 
tho  Josnit  was  alhnvrd  (o  «Honp\  l\in»soll  with  his 
old  tnissionarv  labors.  |o^noslo»n»d  ldins(*H  tnoro 
ha]>p\\  anvl  lH\i;an  (»>  (hink  (hat  Ins  snlloiinivs  had 
Ihhmi  prv>\  iilontial.  \\c  wandonMl  lr«Mn  (own  (t» 
tow;;,  oonv oiling  tltuunod  oaptixos  and  bapti/inj.', 
Komo  so\(mUv  li\H)nois  ohiUhoti.  j 

A\  one  \\\\\c  \\\c  buli.ms  (ook  joiVwOS  \vi(!i  (luMn 
to  a  hsinng-pkuv.  twontv  niilos  Ik  low  (ho  nn(oh 
p<^st,  Vorl  (^r,nii;o,  wlioro  Albanv  now  stands. 
AVhilo  horo  (ho  sornpnlons  |(\sni(  hoa'd  (hal  a 
<rosl\  war-party  had  rodnnod  (o  tho  ^b)llawk  (own, 
and  that  two  piisonors  hatl  b-oon  bnrnod.     Joi^nos 

*  hciiirod  to  bo  aUowoci  (o  rotnrn  los(  (horc  shonUl 
}  ot  Ix"  wi>rk  for  liini  (o  do  aniono-  the  cap(ivos. 
He  xvas  hnr.llv  sont  nj>  tho  rivor  in  a  rotnrninj^ 
ln>quois  canix\  The  Indians  whom  ho  was  witli 
sto]^pcd  lo  trade  at  Fort  i)rani;e.  a  rough  log  Lniilu 


■■EPH 


A    I'UISONIU    AMONC     fill     MVK    NA  I  lONH,      Ct 


t 


\\\\\  Sill KMiiidrd  hy  ,1  hiilch  liaml'l,  whom-  inlial))- 
liiiils  need  liavr  no  ((;ii  (>(  llir  MoliJiwksi  itnd 
vviindcffd  Ml  llic  (<»m'hIm  with  \H',\\('X:\  saffly.  'Ilifr 
l)iit(li  li;id  licMid  (>(  llic  |<siiil.'H  (:;i)»livil  y,  ;ifid  li;id 
iiiiidc  iiKiiiy  kindly  rlddls  lo  sccinr  liis;  rcln.'isc,  hut, 
the  liidiiiir.  Iiiid  iciiiscd  lo  f'jv*'  *'•'"  ••!'  'v'fi  (or 
(Hiilc  M  v.'ilii.'ililr  ;imoiitil  of  jMMjds. 

Some  lime  Ix  (ore,  ;m  Iiidi.iii  .liniiif  fo  '.rf  out  on 
llic  \v;ii  |t;i(li  li;id  ollcMd  lo  hike  a.  \c\\(\  from 
Jo^^iH's  lo  llic  ( (Miimaiidaiit  af  'I  luce  Rivers,  liop- 
in^',  doi:hl  less,  lo  do  some  ad  ol  Ircaehery  \\\\(\('r 
the  pielciice  of  a  jiarley.  Jofoies  wr;ll  iiiidcrstood 
the  iiK-aiiiii^  ol  lliis,  and  piohahly  kiH-vv  in  what 
daiij^V  r  his  own  lile  vvoiihl  he  if  ihe  IndiafiH  were 
ollcndcd.  Ncverlehless  he  wrote  the  letter,  in  .'i 
inixtiire  ol  lM(ii(h,  I.alin,  and  Ifuroii,  ^(ivin^^  an 
account  (^f  Ihe  slate  of  t  hinj^s  afuoiif^  th(;  Indians 
of  Ihe  Imvc  Nations.  This  letter  was  prcscnt.ed  at 
a  new  ImcucIi  h>it  atllie  mouth  of  the  f^ichclicu. 
After  reading  tlie  letter,  tfie  commandant  of  the 
fort  turned  his  cannon  oa  the  hearers,  wfio  fled  pre- 
cijiitatc;!)',  leavin;^  hehind  them  [>a^^a^e  and  guns. 
The  discomfited  warriors  v/ere  now  determined  to 
take  their  revenge  on  the  Jesuit,  wfio  heard  of  their 
deter  ninaticm  at  Fort  Orange. 

This  was  notliing  more  than  Jogues  had  expect- 
ed,    lie  was  about  to  bravely  turn  hib  face  toward 


iln 


ill  I 
lil 


1 


62 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


the  Mohawk  town,  when  some  of  the  Dutch  ol> 
jcctcd,  advising-  him  to  escape  a  certain  death,  and 
offering  him  passage  to  France  in  a  small  vessel 
which  lav  in  the  river.  Jognes  objected  that  his 
escape  might  excite  the  enmity  of  the  Indians 
against  the  Dutch,  but  still  the  Dutchmen  urged, 
and  the  Jesuit  resolved  to  think  and  pray  over  the 
matter.  With  many  misgivings  1  jst  he  should  de- 
sert his  duty,  Jogues  at  last  accepted  the  kind 
offer. 

A  boat  was  to  be  left  for  him  on  the  shore  ; 
meantime  the  Jesuit  must  watch  his  chance  and 
escape  from  his  masters.  Jogues  slei)t  with  the 
Indians  in  a  large  barn-like  building,  without  par- 
tition, where  a  Dutch  farmer,  his  Mohawk  wife, 
lialf-breed  children,  and  cattle  all  lodged.  Going 
out  in  the  night  to  reconnoitre,  the  Jesuit  was  at- 
tacked and  bitten  in  the  leg  by  the  farmer's  dog. 
The  man  came  out,  brought  him  in,  bantlaged  his 
leg,  and  securely  fastened  the  door.  All  night 
long  Jogues  lay  awake,  tormented  with  the  pain  of 
the  bite  and  with  the  excitement  which  human  na- 
ture could  not  but  feel  at  the  hope  of  escaping  from 
so  unhapj)y  a  life.  Before  light  a  farm-hand  en- 
tered with  a  lantern.  The  Indians  were  still  asleep, 
and  by  signs  the  Jesuit  implored  the  assistance  of 
the  man  in  escaping.     The  Dutchman  kindly  led 


I 


A   PRISONER   AMONG   THE    FIVE   NATIONS.      63 


him  out,  reassured  the  dogs,  and  showed  Jog-ues 
tiic  road  to  the  river,  half  a  mile  away.  vSufferinj^ 
great  i)ain  from  his  bite,  he  found  the  boat  so  high 
u\)  on  the  vSands  that  it  was  only  with  desperate 
efforts  that  he  at  last  worked  it  into  the  water  and 
rowed  to  the  vessel.  Here  he  was  kindly  received 
and  hidden  in  the  hold.  For  two  days  he  lived  in 
this  stifiing  place.  Meantime  the  Indians  searched 
every  house  in  the  hamlet.  They  at  last  came  t(; 
the  vessel,  and  now  Jogiies  was  transferred  at 
night  to  the  fort.  Here  he  was  given  in  charge  of 
a  miser,  who  hid  him  in  one  end  of  the  garret  in 
which  he  lived.  Food  was  sent  to  him,  but  the 
miser  devoured  the  most  of  it,  and  Jogues  was  in 
a  state  of  half  starvation. 

The  Indians  were  boimd  not  to  give  up  the 
Jesuit.  The  vessel  sailed,  and  for  six  weeks 
Jogues  lived  in  the  miser's  garret  behind  a  rough 
board  partition,  with  great  chinks  through  which 
he  could  see  the  Mohawks  come  and  go;  for  in 
the  other  end  of  the  garret  the  miser,  like  most 
of  the  other  settlers,  kept  a  store  of  Indian  neces- 
saries and  luxuries,  with  whi-ch  he  kept  up  a  trade 
with  the  Mohawks.  T(^  prevent  the  Indians  innn 
seeing  him  through  the  rude  partition,  Jogues 
was  obliged  to  creep  behind  some  barrels  in  a  cor- 
ner whenever  they  entered,  and  here  he  would  ro- 


64 


RRANT  AND    RED  JACKET. 


I      I 


main  in  a  cramped  position  for  hours  at  a  time. 
His  injured  leg  became  dangerously  sore,  but  he 
was  relieved  by  the  aid  of  a  surgeon  from  the  fort. 
The  Dutch  minister  also  visited  him  and  treated 
him  with  liberality  and  kindness. 

A  large  ransom  was  finally  paid  the  Indians  by 
the  Dutch,  and  the  Jesuit  sailed  for  Manhattan, 
now  New  York,  treated  everywhere  with  the 
utmost  kindness,  provided  with-  a  suit  of  Dutch 
cloth,  and  passage  given  him  in  a  small  vessel 
bound  for  Europe.  Even  this  voyage  was  not 
without  its  hardships,  Jogues  sleeping  on  a  coil 
of  rope  and  suffering  from  cold,  robbed  of  his  hat 
and  coat  by  desperadoes  at  an  English  port;  but 
assisted  by  some  French  sailors,  he  finally  landed 
on  the  coast  of  Brittany.  Entering  a  cottage,  he 
inquired  for  the  nearest  church.  The  peasants, 
who  took  him  for  some  poor  Irishman,  asked  him 
to  come  to  supper  with  them  when  he  returned 
from  church.  The  Jesuit  gladly  accepted  the 
invitation,  and,  after  having  joyfully  taken  the 
communion,  again  he  entered  the  peasants'  cot- 
tage. They  at  once  noticed  his  maimed  and 
distorted  hands,  and  inquired  how  he  could 
have  been  so  injured.  Great  was  their  surprise 
when  he  told  them  his  story.  When  Jogues 
rca'':licd   'he  Jesuit  college  at  Rennes  and  begged 


in 


'  A   PRISONER   AMONG  THE   FIVE   NATIONS.      65 

to  sec  the  rector,  he  appeared  so  much  like  a  be^- 
^ar  that  the  porter  was  not  wilUng  to  admit  him 
until  he  said  that    he  brought  news  from  Canada. 

The  story  of  his  captivity  among  the  Mo- 
hawks had  reached  France.  The  rector  ques- 
tioned the  poor  man  about  Canada,  and  finally 
said,  "  Do  you  know  Father  Jc»gues  ?" 

*'I  knew  him  very  well,"  said  Jogues. 

*'The  Iroquois  have  taken  him,"  said  the  rec- 
tor.    "Is  he  dead  ?     Have  they  murdered  him  ?" 

**  No,"  answered  the  Jesuit,  falling  on  his  knees; 
*'he  is  alive  and  at  libert}-,  and  I  am  he." 


CHAPTER  VII. 


A    M  O  II  AW  K    PEACE. 

Tn  one  of  Piskaret's  bold  adventures  in  1645,  he 
with  six  companions  had  killed  'some  eleven  Iro- 
quois and  captured  two  prisoners.  As  they  were 
returning  to  the  mission  settlement  just  above 
Quebec,  their  triumphant  songs  were  heard.  In- 
dians and  missionaries  thronged  upon  the  shore, 
and  a  squad  of  soldiers  hastened  from  Quebec  to 
deliglit  the  Indians  wdth  a  salute  from  their  guns. 
The  eleven  scalps  were  hung  around  the  town, 
but,  owing  to  the  influence  of  the  Jesuits,  the  aston- 
ished prisoners  escaped  all  torture.  This  forbear- 
ance was  hardly  relished  by  the  Indians. 

"  Oh,  my  father,"  said  one  woman  to  the  Jesuit, 
"  let  me  caress  these  prisoners  a  little ;  they  have 
killed,  burned,  and  eaten  my  father,  my  husband, 
and  my  children."  But  she  was  denied  the  sweets 
of  revenge,  and  lectured  on  Christian  forgiveness. 

It  was  the  design  of  the  French  to  use  the 
prisoners  to  effect  a  peace  with  the  Five  Nations. 
On  the  following  day  a  council  was  held,  attended 


A   MOHAWK    PKACK. 


67 


by  Montmaf^ny,  the  s^overnor,  whom  the  Indians 
styled  Onontio,  as  they  did  all  siibse(|iient  French 
g-overnors.  Piskaret  opened  the  coinicil  with  a 
s{)cech,  g"ivinij^  the  prisoners  to  the  governor. 
Montniagny  answered  with  a  present  in  return. 
The  two  wondering  Troquois  could  with  difficulty 
beheve  that  their  lives  were  saved.  One  of  them, 
a  fellow  of  magnificent  size,  made  a  speech  of 
thanks  to  the  governor. 

"  **  The  shadow  is  before  my  eyes  no  longer,"  he 
said  among  other  things.  "The  spirits  of  my  an- 
cestors slain  by  the  Algonquins  have  disappeared. 
Onontio,  you  are  good  ;  we  are  bad.  But  our  anger 
is  gone.  I  have  no  heart  but  for  peace  and  rejoic- 
ing." He  began  singing,  when  he  suddenly  picked 
up  a  hatchet,  brandished  it  in  a  way  that  must 
have  made  the  audience  wince,  anrl  threw  it  into 
the  fire.  "Thus  1  throw  down  my  anger!"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  Thus  I  cast  away  the  weapons  of 
blood  !  Farewell,  war !  Now  I  am  your  friend 
forever!" 

This  prisoner  was  dressed  in  a  new  suit  of 
clothes,  equipped  for  the  journey,  and  sent  home 
with  a  message  offering  [)cace  to  the  Iroquois,  and 
the  return  of  other  prisoners  if  the  Indians  would  ^ 
come  and  get  them.  About  a  month  after  he  re- 
turned to  Three  Rivers  with  two  ambassadors  and 


Mil    V 

Pi:::,! 


'  i 


68 


URANT   AND    Ki:i)  JACKKT. 


a  fourth  man.  who  n]i]>carc(l  to  l)c  an  Indian  also. 
It  was  Couture,  bron/cd  hv  exposure  and  (hcssed 
in  Iiuhan  costume.  He  had  come  to  he  a  man  of 
inlUiencc  anions^  the  Moliawks,  and  liad  not;  failed 
to  do  his  utmost  in  favor  of  peace.  The  ambassa- 
dors were  feasted  abundantly  and  presented  with 
j^pes  and  tobacco. 

"  You  mav  be  sure  thai  you  arc  safe  here,"  said 
the  commandant  to  one  of  them- who  was  a  chief. 
"It  is  as  thoug"h  you  were  amoni^  your  own  peo- 
ple and  in  your  own  house." 

*'  Tell  your  chief  that  he  lies,"  answered  the  In- 
dian, turning  to  the  interpreter.  The  commandant 
was  somewhat  surprised.  .Vfter  smoking-  a  mo- 
ment, he  continued :  "  Your  chief  says  it  is  as 
thou<i:h  I  were  in  my  own  country.  This  is  not 
true,  for  there  I  am  not  so  honored  and  caressed. 
He  says  it  is  as  though  I  were  in  my  own  house; 
but  in  my  own  house  I  am  sometimes  very  ill 
served,  and  here  you  feast  me  with  all  manner  of 
good  cheer." 

The  Indians  were  entertained  for  a  week,  and 
then  a  great  peace-council  was  held,  attended  by 
Hurons  and  Algonquins,  the  Governor  of  Canada 
and  officers,  the  Superior  of  the  Jesuits  and  Father 
Jogues,  who  had  returned  to  his  labors.  The 
speech  of  the  Mohawk  orator  at  this  council  may 


A   MOHAWK    PKACF. 


69 


give  US  some  idea  of  tlic  cl(X]ucncc  of  later  Iro- 
(jiiois  orators,  like  Red  jacket,  wlio  were  univer- 
sally admired,  but  whose  s[)eeches  in  the  dull,  con- 
densed ollicial  reports  are  shorn  of  their  original 
beauty. 

In  the  centre  of  the  council  was  a  space,  across 
which  a  line  was  strung'  to  bear  the  wampum- 
belts,  which  were  some  of  them  huns^  upon  the 
bodies  of  the  two  Indians  and  part  of  them  stored 
in  a  bag.  The  chief  marched  int(j  this  space, 
looked  up  impressively  at  the  sun  and  then  around 
at  his  audience. 

"  On(mtio,  give  ear,"  said  he.  "  I  am  the  mouth 
of  all  my  nation.  When  you  listen  to  me,  you 
listen  to  all  the  Iroquois.  There  is  no  evil  in  my 
heart.  My  song  is  a  song  of  peace.  We  have 
many  war-songs  in  our  country,  but  we  have 
thrown  them  all  away  and  now  we  sing  c^f  nothing 
but  <.Jadness  and  rejoicing."  After  a  peace-song 
he  thanked  the  governor  fen"  the  life  of  the  prisoner 
who  had  been  returned,  but  with  Indian  subtlety 
rebuked  him  for  sending  the  man  without  an 
escort.  He  now  led  out  Couture,  and,  tying  a  belt 
of  wampum  on  his  arm,  said,  "  W^ith  this  1  give 
you  back  this  prisoner.  I  did  not  say  to  him, 
*  Nephew,  take  a  canoe  and  go  home  to  Quebec' 
I  should  have  been  without  sense  had  I  dune  so.    I 


m 


70 


15RANT    AM)    RED   JACKET. 


should  have  been  troubled  in  my  heart  lest  some 
evil  mii^ht  befall  him.  The  prisoner  whom  you 
sent  back  to  us  suffered  every  kind  of  dang^er  and 
hardship  on  the  way."  And  the  orator  proceeded 
to  represent  by  j)antomimc  the  journey  of  the  In, 
dian.  The  assembly  was  struck  with  his  wondcr- 
fid  acting-,  lie  was  rowing  in  a  canoe,  now  he 
toiled  with  a  boat  on  his  head  over  a  lonely  carry, 
stopping"  with  l:)reath  almost  gone  or  tripping  with 
his  load.  Again  you  could  see  him  ascending 
rapids,  unable  to  stem  the  rushing  current,  look- 
ing in  dcs^'pair  at  the  dangers  around,  at  last  with 
a  desperate  effort  making  the  attempt.  ''  What 
did  you  mean,"  resumed  the  chief,  "  by  sending  a 
man  alone  amon":  these  dani^ers?  I  have  not  done 
so.  *  Come,  nephew,'  1  said  to  the  prisoner  before 
you,  *  follow  me.  I  will  see  you  home  at  the  risk 
of  my  life.' " 

As  the  orator  presented  each  wampum-btfll.  he 
gave  it  a  meaning.  Among  others,  one  was  to 
wipe  out  all  memories  which  might  lead  to  the 
desire  for  revenge.  "  I  passed  near  the  place 
where  Piskaret  and  the  Algonquins  slew  our  war- 
riors in  the  spring,"  said  the  chief.  "  I  saw  the 
scene  of  the  fight  where  the  two  prisoners  were 
taken.  I  passed  quickly  ;  I  would  not  look  on 
the  blood  of  my  people.     Their  bodies  lie  there 


A    MOIFAWK    rFACF. 


71 


he 
to 
he 

ICC 

ar- 
he 
;re 
on 
;re 


still;  I  turned  away  my  eyes  that  I  mij^ht  not  be 
an<^ry."  He  sto()|)C(l  and  knocked  on  tlie  "ground. 
Then  he  Hstened  a  moment.  "  I  heard  the  voice 
of  my  ancestors  slain  by  the  Alg'onciuins,"  said  he, 
'^crying-  to  me  in  a  tone  of  affection,  *  My  <j;-rand- 
son,  my  grandson,  restrain  your  anger.  Think  no 
more  of  us,  for  you  cannot  deliver  us  from  death. 
Think  of  the  livinir  ;  rescue  them   from  the  knife 


.->  ' 


and  the  fire.'  " 

He  gave  the  fifth  belt  to  drive  away  war-parties 
from  the  waters,  the  sixth  to  smooth  down  rapids 
and  falls  in  the  streams,  and  the  seventh  to  f^uiet 
the  waves  in  the  lakes.  The  eighth  was  to 
make  a  clear  path  by  land  between  the 
French  and  the  Five  Nations.  The  orator 
cut  down  trees,  chopped  off  branches,  cleared 
away  brush,  and  fdled  up  holes,  all  in  panto- 
mime. "Look,"  he  exclaimed,  "the  road  is  open, 
smooth,  and.  straight."  He  stooped,  felt  of  the 
ground,  and  announced  that  there  was  "  neither 
thorn  nor  stone  nor  log  in  the  way."  Belt  after 
belt  followed,  each  with  its  particular  meaning. 
The  fifteenth  was  to  say  that  the  Indians  had 
always  intended  to  send  Jogues  home.  "  If  he  had 
but  been  patient,"  said  the  chief,  "  I  woidd  have 
brought  him  back  myself.  Now  1  know  not  what 
has  befallen  him.    Perhaps  he  is  drowned."    Jogues 


!'■'! 


!J 


1^ 


lU<y\NT    AND    KKD    fACKF'.T. 


smiled,  and  whispered  to  the  Jesuits  nc»ir  him, 
"They  had  the  pile  laid  to  burn  inc.  Tlu'v  would 
have  killed  me  a  lumdred  times  if  Ciod  had  not 
saved  my  life."  i 

The  couneil  ended  in  a  j^eneral  dance  of  all  the 
Indians  present.  Thus  was  a  hollow  peace  con- 
cluded between  the  French  and  the  Mf)hawks ;  for 
thoui^h  the  orator  had  pretended  otherwise,  this 
was  the  only  one  of  the  Five  Nations  concerned  in 
the  council.  It  was  a  frequent  trick  in  this  singular 
confederacy  to  offer  peace  by  the  hands  of  one  of 
its  nations,  and  to  strike  by  the  hands  of  another. 
The  restless  warriors  of  the  Mohawks,  however, 
were  not  long  to  be  restrained.  Lying  as  they  did 
nearest  to  Canada,  the  Mohawks  chiefly  led  in  this 
war,  while  the  other  nations  busied  themselves  in 
subjugating  nearer  neighbors. 

Father  Jogues  was  the  first  to  fall  in  the  renewed 
war.  Ordered  by  his  Superior  to  return  to  the 
country  of  the  Mohawks,  to  help  bind  the  peace 
and  to  start  a  mission,  he  at  first  recoiled,  but 
bravely  undertook  the  task.  At  the  advice  of  a 
Christian  Indian,  he  did  not  at  first  preach,  as  the 
Christian  religion  would  have  the  effect  of  anger- 
ing the  savages,  since  it  overturned  all  that  they 
thought  dear ;  neither  did  he  wear  his  long  gown, 
for,  said  the  Indian,  "  that  preaches  as  well  as  your 


'Ml 


A    MollAWK    rKACK. 


n 


lips."  Father  Jogucs  made  one  journey  into  the 
Mohawk  country,  and  left  liis  chest,  h)cke(l,  in 
tlie  care  of  the  Indians,  having  liist  shown 
them  the  contents.  The  sui)erstiti()us  Inthans 
nevertheless  suspected  that  this  box  contained 
some  pestilence.  This  was  enougii  to  inflame  the 
smoiddering  hatred.  When  Jo^ues  returned  to 
start  his  mission,  well  knowin^^  that  he  was  J^oinj; 
to  his  death,  he  was  received  with  heatinj^  and 
abuse,  althouj^h  there  was  a  lar<^e  party  in  his 
favor.  Jle  was  invited  to  dinner  at  an  Indian's 
cabin.  As  he  stooped  to  enter  the  door,  a  warrior 
stood  ready  with  a  hatchet.  A  friendly  Indian 
held  out  his  arm  to  protect  the  gentle  priest,  but 
the  descendin<^  hatchet  cut  throuj^h  his  arm  and 
sank  into  the  head  of  Father  Jogues.  And  this  is 
how  the  Mission  of  Martyrs,  as  it  was  to  have  been 
called,  was  attempted  among  the  Mohawks. 


i 


1^    I 


1    il 

1 


i 


CIIAITER    VI II. 


Tlir:    RUIN    OI'    A    NATION. 


TllK  Miirops  bcl()ni';('<l  1<>  llu"  s;mu>  j^ical  family 
with  tli(^  I'ivi*  Nalions.  Like  llicsc  liulians,  and 
unlike  1 'ic  waiuleiiiiij;  Aii;"()iK|uiiis  ol  the  norlli,  lliev 
sii]>I)<)rtc(l  lluMiiselves  niainlv  h\  a  rude  amieullurc 
and  lived  in  fortified  towns.  Their  lioine  was  on 
the  «;reat  Cieor^ian  Bay  c)f  Lake  Huron.  Tlieir 
customs  were  sim"ilar  to  those  of  the  Irociuois. 
Like  all  Indians,  they  were  superstitious  and  hithy. 
The  Hurons  were  also  an  espeeially  immoral  peo- 
ple. Here  it  was  that  the  Jesuits  did  the  most 
of  their  nrissionary  work.  Here  they  had  ])lanted 
their  chief  missions,  and  here  they  had  labored 
amoni^  the  savag-es  when  they  were  dyins^  of  the 
pestilence  and  the  small-pox. 

The  larg-er  Muron  towns  now  bore  the  names  of 
Christian  saints.  A  sort  of  headquarters  for  the 
w^ork  had  been  planted  in  a  central  position  and 
called  Sainte  ^Llrie.  Here  the  Jesuits  had  tlieir 
storehouse,  their  permanent  mission-house,  and  a 
showy   htll'^  church,   the   wonder   and  delight  of 


I 


THE    KUiN    OF    A    NA HON. 


•5 


^i 


the    Indians,  with  its  ^aud}'  paiiitini^s  and   inuiges 
well  calcidatcd  lo   please  a  savant:  taste. 

Saiiitc  Marie  was  lortilied  with  walls  of  :-;t()iie 
airl  palisades.  VV^ithoiit  the:  walls  was  a  lari^e  i)aii- 
sadcd  i)eii  coiitaiiiiiii^  bai'k  buildiiiLCS  whieh  eoiild 
accommodate  many  Indians.  1 1  ere  the  Jesuits  were 
visited  daily  by  some  of  their  conyerts,  who  were 
fed  and  treated  with  the  utmost  liosjiitalil  y  ;  here, 
alio,  some  thousands  o!  Indians  .veic  succcjred  ia 
time  of   famine. 

In  spite  of  labor  and  charity  the  Huron  was 
lonsj^  but  a  l)arren  field.  The  Indians  were  not 
wi'li.i^  to  meet  eyen  the  slii^ht  recinircnicnls  of 
the  Jesuits  to  become  Christians.  Thiv  could  s('C 
no  pleasure  in  ^oini;-  to  a  white  man's  licaven 
where  there  was  no  iiuntin^- and  llshiuL^- ;  in  fact, 
they  were  seriously  afraid  of  staryin,^-  here.  They 
thoui^ht  baptism  was  a  charm,  and  they  turned  all 
too  (juickly  from  conyersion  to  medicine-men  and 
sorcerers. 

When  an  Indian  was  converted  he  \vas  often  en- 
couraged by  such  cheerful  })rophecies  as  these  on 
the  part  of  his  uni^odly  brethren:  "You  \yill  kill 
no  more  game.     All  your  liai^  will  ctjinc  out  before 


spnn^ 


p-. 


The    persistent    fathers    labored   under   unnum- 
be?.c(.l   difficulties,  discomforts,   and  perils.     .^lurc 


76 


]5KANT    yvNl)    RED   J/VCKET. 


i  I 


than  once  hatchets  were  raised   over  the  heads  of 

Jesuits.     They  wciv  accused  ot   being-  the  cause  of 

the  ])estilence.     I'ubUc  suspicion  at   one  time  rose 

to  such  a  heiL'-ht  that  the  doom  of  the  missionaries 

seemed   sealed.     They  took   the  bold   measure  of 

giving  a  farewell  feast  after  the  manner  of  the  ITu- 

rons,  and  the  storm   gradually  blew  over.     By  the 

year  1648  the  mission,  with  man}' outlying  branches, 

was  well  established.     The  Jesuits-  had  gradually 

gained  in  inlluence,  and  the}'  h' d   great   hopes  for 

their  work,  amonsjf  the    Ilurons.     There   were  at 

this  time  about  eighteen   Jesuits,  besides  laymen 

and    soldiers,    attached   to    the    mission  of   Sainte 

Marie.    Of  the  priests,  fifteen  travelled  to  scattered 

missions    at    various    Indian    towns,    reuniting    at 

Sainte  Marie  several  times  a  year   and  returning 

there  singly  once   in  a  while  for    meditation    and 

s})iritual  refreshment. 

During  all  this  time  a  cc^nstant  petty  warfare 
had  been  kept  u^)  between  the  Hurons  and  the  Five 
Nations.  Many  a  time  Huron  war-parties  had 
gone  out  never  to  return.  Many  a  night  the  toi- 
ture-hres  had  burned  within  Huron  towns  and  a 
tumult  of  wild  voices  annoimced  the  slow  death  of 
an  Irocjuois,  whose  body  was  perhaps  aftei'wards 
eaten.  The  influence  of  the  Jesuits  was  probably 
too  slight  to  allow  of  their  interfering  in  this  sav- 


\ 


¥4i 


THE    !;UIN    OF   A    NATION. 


77 


mt/- 


af^c  custom,  thoiig-h  indeed  they  cared  little  for 
bodily  torment  if  the  soul  could  but  be  sa^/cd  by 
baptism.  Then,  too,  they  had  every  reason  to  hate 
and  dread  the  Iroquois,  who  had  never  shown 
the  French  colony  the  friendly  side  which  they 
turned  toward  the  Dutch  and  the  Eni^lish,and  who 
persecuted  their  flock  without  mercy.  The  Iro- 
quois stood  to  the  Jesuits  in  the  place  of  Satan 
himself. 

In  1647  the  Huron  Indians  could  not  vSummon 
courage  to  go  down  to  the  settlements  on  their 
■annual  trading  visit  f(^r  fear  of  the  Iroquois,  who 
mfested  all  the  water  highways.  During  the  fol- 
lowing year,  however,  they  made  the  attempt. 
They  had  neared  the  fort  of  Three  Rivers  in  safe- 
ty, and  had  stopp'^d  before  entering  the  place,  after 
the  manner  of  Indians,  to  decorate  and  paint  them- 
selves in  order  that  they  might  make  a  fine  ap- 
pearance, when  the  dreaded  alarm,  "  The  Iroquois, 
the  Iroquois  !"  came  from  one  of  their  scouts. 
Dropi)ing  their  toilet  articles  and  springing  for 
their  weapons,  the  ITurons  rushed  to  meet  the 
enemy.  They  were  welcomed  h\  a  brisk  fire, 
but  they  fell  flat  to  avoid  it,  and  then  jumping  to 
their  feet  began  a  fierce  fight.  They  outnumbered 
the  Iroquois,  whom  thcv  soon  routed,  killing  and 
capturing  many.     The  Hurons  were  frantic  with 


^^mmm^^ 


II 


W     I 


ii  !i 


II-!! 


J5RAXT   AND    l;F.T)    JACnKT.    , 


deliijhi.  After  trading  with  the  French  they  made 
a  triumi)lKil  i)n)i;'rcss  to  tlieir  h.)nie,  only  to  find 
ruin  there. 

The  Huron  town  of  St.  Joseph,  in  spite  of  the 
ravages  of  war  and  ])estilence,  contained  some 
two  thousand  inhabitants  and  Mas  the  chief  town 
of  tlie  nation.  It  hiy  on  the  southeastern  fron- 
tier of  the  Huron  country,  and  was  the  great 
Huron  stronghold  where  nuHiberless  prisoners 
had  suiTered  death. 

The  Jesuit  Father  Daniel  liad  labored  here  four 
years.  His  task  had  been  a  difficult  but  a  suc- 
cessfid  one.  In  the  midsummer  of  1648  he  had 
just  returned  with  fresh  courage  to  his  labors  after 
a  short  retreat  at  Sainte  Marie.  The  warriors 
were  nearly  all  absent  from  the  town,  some  trad- 
ing, some  hunting,  and  some  on  the  war-path 
against  the  Iroquois.  The  father  had  been  hold- 
ing mass  in  the  early  morning  in  his  little  church, 
which  was  crowded  to  the  doorway.  Suddenly 
cries  of  terror  startled  the  little  congregation  from 
'ts  prayers.  The  Iroquois  were  rushing  from  the 
V)rcst  and  across  the  corn-fields  to  the  unguarded 
opening  in  the  palisade  of  the  town.  Within  all 
was  in  a  panic.  Dan.iel  ran  from  the  church  to  the 
palisades,  hurried  forward  those  who  could  fight 
to  the  poiiit  of  danger,  inspiring  cojrage  in  them, 


■» 

*. 


i.4 
■'J 


L^P^ 


THE    RUIN    OF    A    NATION. 


79 


and "  prom i sin ![^  them  paradise  if  they  defended 
their  homes  and  reUj^ion.  Then  he  ran  from  house 
to  house  caUini^  on  the  heathen  to  repent. 

The  helpless  ereatures  throng-cd  aroimd  him, 
be£ririn<r  to  be  saved.  Hedipi)ed  his  handkerchief 
in  a  bowl  of  water  and,  sprinkling  it  on  the  crowd, 
baptized  them.  They  followed  him  to  the  church, 
where  he  found  old  men,  women,  and  children. 

"  Brothers,  to-day  we  shall  be  in  heaven  !"  cried 
the  brave  i)riest  again  and  again,  as  he  baptized  the 
crowd. 

The  town  could  not  long  be  defended.  The 
palisades  were  forced,  and,  with  whoops  and  yells 
like  demons,  they  were  Vvithin  the  town. 

"  Fly  !  fly  !"  cried  Father  Daniel,  pushing  the 
thronging  Indians  away  from  him.  "  I  will  stay 
here.  We  shall  meet  agam  in  heaven."  Many 
succeeded  in  escaping  through  the  opening  in  the 
])alisades  opposite  tf  ■  that  which  the  Iroquois  had 
forced.  Daniel,  too,  might  have  ikd,  but  he  stood 
by  his  duty,  a\v'aiting  martyrdom  ;  f(n- there  might 
still  be  more  dying  sovds  to  rescue  from  perdition. 
A  moment  more  imd  Ik*  s:iw  (he  fnxnK.is  comiuir. 
lie  stenpeil  f<irth  Irom  th  church  in  hi.-,  priestly 
robes  and  stood  facing  the  enemy.  They  stopj)ed 
in  astonishnK.nt.  Then  a  shower  of  arrows  fell 
upon  him  and  wounded  him  in   many  places,  fol- 


^.tji  -4»^fcj.-:>*iuyiiiW<M»<IWW"  "  ^1— IW 


if 


b'O 


liRANT   AND    KKD    |A(KF,T. 


lowcfl  (iiiicklv  l)^  a  hullcl  lhi-<)iii:;-|i  his  hcnrfe.  Diiji- 
icl  li'll  (k-ad,  aiul  llic  hociiiois  luslicd  upon  the 
hiclcss  body  to  imitihitc  it  and  bathe  tiicii^  laces 
in  the  Jesuit's  bhxxl  to  make  tiiein  brave. 

Anotiier  paiisacU'd  town  near  vSt.  Joseph  was 
also  laid  in  ashes,  and  tlie  Inxpiois  turned  home 
with  some  seven  hundred  piisouers,  nuuiy  of  whom 
thev  killed  on  tlu^  road. 

A  severe  blow  iiad  been  struck  at  the  Ilurons; 
a  wide  breach  was  juade  in  the  I  lunm  country. 
The  Iroquois  were  (]uick  to  follow  it  up.  A  larijc 
band  oi  wari'iors  set  out  in  the  fall  for  the  unfor- 
tunate nation,  but  s[)ent  the  winter  in  the  forests. 
Meantime  the  Jesuits  did  their  utmost  ta  induce 
the  llitrons  to  <;uard  themselves  and  take  every 
precaution  ajj^ainst  the  enenn  .  Hut  it  was  of  r.o 
use;  the  lixlians  were  overwhelmed  with  dread  of 
their  ciienn  ,  Init,  accordinjj^  to  the  CTistoms  of  their 
torelathers,  thev  sle])t  unguarded  ;  bands  of  war- 
riors went  forth  to  tiij^ht  «»r  hunt  at  their  own 
l>leasiu(\  find  some  were  a[)pointed  to  tlefend  the 
palisades. 

In  the  month  of  March  a  th()us;ind  M(thav\'k 
and  Seneca  liulians  were  within  the  very  country 
of  tnc  Ilurons  unsuspected,  havnig  cnt'^red  over 
the  nuns  of  St.  Joseph.  In  the  nii^littime  they 
crept  to  the  walls  of  St.  Ignace,  which  u'cre  total- 


Tlir:    RUIN    OF    A    NATION. 


8[ 


ly  uni^iiardod.  Hcforc  (laylii^hf.  the  Ii<)(|U()is  war- 
wlioop  woke  the  sI^'cpiiiL^  iiiinalcs  to  dcalli  or 
slavery.  The  woik  was  clone  in  a  lew  minutes  ; 
there  was  lio  exit  from  this  town,  and  hut  tiirec 
out  of  four  luuulred  eseaj)e(l.  The  inxjuois  now- 
hurried  U)  the  neiij^h boring-  town  (;f  vSt,  Louis. 
Here  three  Indians  who  iiad  eseaped  Irom  St.  I^i;- 
naee  had  s])read  the  tidin^-s.  The  inmates  fled 
throiii^h  the  forest,  with  the  excej)tion  of  some 
ei<2;litv  warriors,  the  Jesuit  missionaries  Drebeuf 
and  Lalemant,  who  refused  to  leave  the  post  of 
dan^i^er,  and  those  who  were  t(^()  old  or  sick  to 
make  their  escape. 

The  warriors  sang-  their  war-songs  and  prepared 
to  defend  the  })alisades  to  the  last.  The  panic- 
stricken  inliabitants  had  scarcely  fled  from  tlu^ 
town  when  the  thousand  Iroquois  were  at  the  pah- 
sades.  The  defenders  fought  like  tigers  with  ar- 
rows, stones,  and  guns,  with  which  they  were  not 
so  well  supplied  as  the  warriors  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions. When  breaches  were  made  in  the  i)alisadcs, 
a  deadly  battle  ensued  with  knife  and  tomahawk, 
In  the  thickest  of  the  fight  were  the  two  Jesuits, 
the  iron-framed  Brcbeuf  and  the  delicate  Lale- 
mant, one  baptizing  and  the  other  giving  absolu- 
tion. 

At  last  the   fight  was  over.      Ordy   some  few 


! 


■W 


:  I 


!  Ml;. 

m 

i  ;     r 


■\ 


r?  l'.RANT   AM)    KKl)   JACKET. 

■bounded  warriors  and  two  priests  remained  as 
jdisoners.  The  houses,  with  what  helpless  in- 
mates had  been  left  there,  were  in  a  blaze.  The 
airiy  retreated  to  St.  If^nace,  where  the  priests, 
who  had  so  bravely  encouraged  their  ilock,  were 
:ti  especial  object  for  savage  blows.  The  Iroquois 
LOW  divitled  themselves  into  bands  and  destroyed 
ti'C  smaller  villages. 

The  two  Jesuits  were  doomed' to  die  by  the  most 
excruciating  tortures  that  Indians  could  devise : 
slow  fire,  scalding  water,  the  knife,  red-hot  irons, 
all  these  were  applied  to  the  indomitable  Brcbeuf 
to  make  him  utter  one  groan,  but  it  was  of  no  use. 
The  grand  martyr,  defiant,  luiflinching,  among  his 
fiendish  torturers,  was  a  wonder  even  in  the  eyes 
of  savage  courage.  When  he  was  dead,  the  In- 
dians drank  his  blood,  and  their  chief  ate  his  heart,, 
that  they  might  gain  some  of  his  courage.  The 
t'U'licate  and  nervous  Laiemant  must  go  perhaps 
t  en  a  harder  road  to  paradise.  For  long  hours 
his  tortures  endured,  while  he  had  not  the  strong 
frame  to  withstand  them  without  a  sign  of  his  tor- 
ment. The  "noble  Indians"  of  poetry  and  ro- 
mance fade  from  our  sight  when  we  read  these 
accounts.  The  Indians  had  their  own  savage  vir- 
tues doubtless,  but  they  had  also  very  savage 
faults. 


-? 


THE    RUIN    OF   A   NATION. 


83 


The  inmates  of  vSaiiite  Marie  had  seen  in  the  dis- 
tance the  risin*;'  smoke  of  St.  Louis.  They  fully 
exi>ectc(l  their  turn  to  come  m^xt.  The  walls  were 
{guarded  ni<j^ht  and  day,  and  the  Jesuits  made  vows 
and  prayers  without  number.  The  Irociuois  rcaily 
intended  to  strike  this  stront^hold  of  the  fathers. 
Meantime  some  three  hmulrcd  warrior-converts 
ot  the  UuroHH  had  come  to  the  lissistance  of  the 
Jesuits.  Tbt-'V^  hiid  an  aT:buscade  on  the  route  to 
Sainte  Marie.  An  advance-party  of  the  Iroquois, 
setting  out  for  this  place,  fell  u[)on  one  small  band 
of  the  Hurons,  routed  them,  and  chased  them  un- 
der the  very  walls  of  Sainte  Marie.  The  remain- 
der of  the  Hurons  came  to  the  rescue,  njuted  the 
Iroquois  in  turn,  and  pursued  them  inside  the 
broken  walls  of  St.  Loi'is.  Here  they  killed  those 
who  did  not  escape  l)y  a  precipitate  llig-ht.  The 
Hurons  were  again  in  possession  of  the  charred  re- 
mains of  St.  Louis.  They  were  soon  attacked  by 
the  whole  L-oquois  force.  Their  ginis  were  scarce, 
and  their  main  fighting  was  with  knife  and  toma- 
hawk. Again  and  again  they  sallied.  It  was  a 
most  ferocious  battle  :  Hurons  goaded  to  fury  and 
at  bay;  Iroquois  inspired  with  the  ferocious  cour- 
;;ge  which  laid  waste  so  many  Indian  iiahons.  But 
twenty  exhausted  priso!iers  remained  to  the  victo- 
rious Iroquois. 


ill; 


In 


I 


r  • 


I 


::i"\. 


ii   ■ 


Hi 


HiM 


i  ! 


8a 


rsRANT   AND   RED  JACKET. 


The  Iroquois  did  not  wait  to  carry  their  work 
any  farther.  They  had  met  several  severe  rebuffs, 
much  loss  of  men,  and  had  tested  the  mettle  of  the 
Jesuits.  With  Indian  fickleness  they  now  turned 
homeward,  but  first  they  tied  those  prisoners 
whom  they  had  determined  to  kill  within  the 
house  of  St.  l^nace,  and,  setting-  fire  to  the 
whole,  they  left  them  to  burn. 

Many  of  the  fugitive  Hurons  had  fled  to  a  ncigh- 
boring  tribe  of  Indians,  known  asthc  Tobacco  Na- 
tion. The  Jesuits  had  two  missions  among  these 
Indians,  St.  Jean  and  St.  Matthias*  The  former 
was  a  large  town  for  an  Indian  town,  and  its  popu- 
lation was  greatly  augmented  by  the  Tlurons  who 
had  taken  refuge  there.  But  the  Iroquois  hunted 
their  prey  wherever  they  could  find  it,  and  their 
taste  for  conquest  was  unbounded. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1649  the  inhabitants  of  St. 
[can  were  warned  that  a  large  war-party  of  the 
enemy  was  hovering  near.  Instantl}'  all  was  prepa- 
ration  within  the  town.  Warriors  painted  and 
decked  themselves,  sang  their  war- songs,  and 
danced  their  war- dance.  They  waited  for  two 
(lays  and  the  enemy  did  not  appear.  They  fancied 
they  had  frightened  them  away,  and  they  probably 
fancied  right;  for  Indians  will  wait  a  long  time  be- 
fore tlicv  brave  an  enemv  wluj  cMiecls  them.    The 


*< 


TITK    RUIN    OF    A    N  ATT  ON". 


H 


ii'npaticiit  w»irriors  had  now  whetted  their  appetite 
for  war,  and  they  started  out  to  meet  the  enemy, 
leaving"  St.  Jean  defenceless. 

One  December  da},  as  the  Jesuit  Garnier  was 
going- around  the  town  visiting  the  sick,  the  Iro- 
quf)is  war-wh()0{)  resounded  from  the  neighboring 
woods.  The  town  was  instantly  in  a  wild  panic. 
The  priest  ran  to  the  little  church.  Here  some 
of  his  converts  had  run  for  safety.  He  gave  them 
his  benediction  and  told  them  to  fly.  He  ran  back 
to  the  houses,  in  and  out  of  which  he  moved,  bap- 
tizing and  giving  absolution. 

As  he  was  thus  busied,  he  was  met  by  an  Tro- 
(juois;  for  the  enemy  were  now  within  the  town, 
doing  their  terrible  work.  The  Indian  put  three 
shots  through  the  Jesuit's  body  and  hastened  on. 
Near  the  dying  priest  lay  a  wounded  Huron,  not 
yet  dead.  Garnier  got  upon  his  knees  and  crept 
toward  the  man  in  order  to  give  him  absolution. 
He  fell  down  again,  but  presently  rose  up  and 
moved  again  toward  the  Huron.  At  this  moment 
the  Iroquois  saw  him,  and  he  was  struck  dead  with 
an  Indian  hatchet. 

The  t(jwn  was  now.blazing.  The  Iroquois  has- 
tened their  deadly  work,  dreading  the  return  of 
the  warriors  to  their  home.  The  following  morning- 
brought  these  rash  Indians  back  to  find  St.  Jean 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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•86 


URANT   AND    KEi:)   JACKET 


Dut  a  mass  of  ashes  alid  charred  bodies.  Silently 
the  desolate  warriors  sat  d(jwn  among  the  niins 
ond  bowed  their  heads.  Squaws  mij^ht  cry  ;  thus 
an  Indian  brave  mourned. 

The  ruin  of  the  Huron  nation  was  complete. 
Hundreds  of  Indians  were  homeless  in  a  C(nmtry 
much  too  thickly  populated  to  support  the  inhabit- 
ants by  huntingalone,  and  hundreds  died  of  famine. 
Attacked  successively  by  pestilence,  the  Iroquois, 
and  famine,  the  Hurons  as  a  nation  were  wiped 
from  the  face  of  the  earth.  Sainte  JNIarie  was 
abandoned,  and  'die  Jesuits  moved  the  little  rem- 
nant of  the  people  to  an  island  in  Lake  Huron. 

But  the  Hurons  dared  not  hunt  for  fear  of  the 
Iroquois.  Their  main  s'jstenance  was  a  scanty 
store  of  pounded  acorns.  The  Jesuits  spent  the 
winter  administering'  to  famished  and  fever-strick- 
en   Indians,   who   died    by   the  hundreds.     When 

# 

spring  came  on  the  Hurons  grew  reckless  and  sal- 
lied forth  upon  the  mainland  in  hunting-parties, 
only  to  be  cut  off  by  their  relentless  persecutors. 
Those  that  were  left  subsequently  moved  to  the 
Island  of  Orleans,  below  Quebec ;  but  even  here 
they  were  destined  to  be. carried  off  piecemeal. 
Another  remnant  of  the  Hurons  wandered  west 
until  they  were  driven  back  by  the  fierce  Sioux. 
They  were  the  ancestors  of  the  Wyandots  of  more 
recent  hstir* 


i  ii 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CANADA    IN   DANGER. 

CuAMPLAiN,  the  single-hearted  founder  of  the 
little  colony  was  dead,  but  Canada  must  long  suf- 
fer for  liis  adventurous  meddling  in  the  wars  of 
the  Five  Nations.  In  1653  these  almost  irresisti- 
ble warriors  threatened  Canada  at  every  point, 
and  many  were  the  prayers,  fasts,  penances,  and 
vows  offered  for  the  safety  of  the  miserable  little 
colony.  All  was  plundered  and  burned  outside 
of  fortifications.  The  outposts  (jf  Montreal  and 
Three  Rivers  were  invested.  The  former,  with  a 
garrison  of  twenty -six  Frenchmen,  was  attacked 
by  two  hundred  Iroquois ;  at  the  latter  post  some 
six  hundred  Mohawks,  determined  on  revenge  for 
the  death  oi  a  famous  chief,  beleagured  the  fort. 
Around  Quebec  itself  there  was  no  safety.  The 
Jesuit  Poncet,  taking  with  him  a  man  named 
Franchetot,  was  going  to  the  relief  of  a  poor 
woman  who  could  not  get  her  patch  of  corn  har- 
vested. Thcv  fell  into  tlic  hands  of  liic  lro(]uois, 
and  were  botii  carried  off.      Thirty-two  French- 


!r 


I     i 


t 


IM 


I 


11 


IhW 


h  I 


88 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


men  followed  to  rescue  them,  but,  nearing  Three 
Rivers  and  finding  it  besieged  by  the  Mohawks, 
they  threw  themselves  into  the  fort,  to  the  joy  of 
the  garrison  and  rage  of  the  besiegers. 

For  a  short  time  the  colony  was  granted  a  res- 
pite. A  deputation  of  Onondaga  chiefs,  begged 
admittance  to  Montreal,  and  there  concluded  a 
treaty  of  peace.  To  the  pious  inmates  this  was 
a  miracle  caused  by  the  direct  interposition  of 
Heaven ;  but  a  more  commonplace  reason  could 
be  found  for  it.  The  western  tribes  of  the  Five 
Nations  were  now  making  war  on  the  Fries, 
whom  they  afterwards  totally  exterminated.  And 
"one  war  at  a  time,"  said  the  Iroquois, '  wiser 
than  some  more  civilized  nations. 

Meantime  Father  Foncet  was  dragged  through 
the  woods,  sleeping  on  damp  ground,  suffering 
from  colic  as  he  waded  in  water  waist-deep,  and 
with  a  blistered  foot  and  a  benunbed  leg.  Worst 
of  all,  the  savages  snatched  from  him  the  little 
case  which  he  wore  containing  sacred  relics  and 
scattered  them  to  the  winds.  He  consoled  him- 
self, however,  with  some  religious  pictures.  He 
hid  them  in  the  bushes,  fenring  to  let  the  savages 
see  them  lest  they  should  laugh  at  him. 

Arrived  at  the  lower  town  of  the  Mohawks,  the 
Jesuit    and    Franclictot    were    stri{)ped    of    their 


CANADA    IN    DANGER. 


89 


clothes  and  forced  to  run  the  gauntlet  between 
rows  of  cruel  savages,  each  aiming  to  deal  the 
hardest  blow  at  their  victims.  The  poor  Jesuit 
was  then  placed  on  a  bark  scaffold  and  sur- 
rounded by  his  torturers.  It  began  to  rain,  how- 
ever, and,  the  torture  being  postponed,  Poncet 
was  taken  into  a  cabin.  But  the  dull  hours  must 
be  whiled  away.  The  Jesuit  was  made  to  sing, 
dance,  and  go  through  various  performances  for 
the  amusement  of  his  captors.  But,  according  to 
a  literal  translation  of  the  narrator,  tl.e  poor  man 
**  did  not  succeed  to  their  liking  in  these  monker- 
ies," and  would  have  been  put  to  death  if  a 
young  Huron  prisoner  had  not  offe»"ed  himself  to 
"  sing,  dance,  and  make  wry  faces  in  place  of  the 
father,  who  had  never  learned  the  trade." 

Franchctot  was  burned,  and  Poncet  also  was 
still  destined  for  the  stake.  A  hideous  one-eyed 
Indian  began  his  tortures  by  calling  a  Mohawk 
child  of  four  or  five  years  of  age  and  giving  him 
a  knife  with  which  to  cut  one  of  the  father's 
finger's  off.  Father  I'oncet,  believing  his  martyr- 
dom to  be  at  hand,  sang  the  Vcxilla  Regis  while 
•this  operation  was  performed.  Everything  is  pre- 
j)ared,  the  Jesuit  is  to  be  burned,  when  an  Indian 
squaw  steps  forward  and  says  that  she  adopts 
this  man   in  place  of   a   dead  brother.     The  tor- 


ii 


i  t 


90 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


turcrs  immediately  desist.  This  is  strictly  accord- 
ing to  Indian  custom.  Some  imjnilse  occasion- 
ally moved  an  Indian  accustomed  to  delight  in 
barbarous  torments  to  save  the  life  of  a  doomed 
prisoner.  It  was  also  customary  among  the  Five 
Nations,  after  they  had  sufficiently  glutted  their 
frenzy  of  revenge,  to  adopt  the  remaining  cap- 
tives, scattering  them  around  among  the  tribes, 
and  thus  replenishing  their  population,  drained 
as  it  was  by  constant  war. 

Poor  Father  Poncet,  who  was,  he  thinks,  un- 
worthy of  martyrdom,  was  nevertheless  doomed 
to  be  made  ridiculous.  He  must  now  see  him- 
self dressed  in  leggins,  moccasins,  and  dirty  shirt, 
and  masquerade  as  an  Iroquois  warrior.  After 
some  three  months  among  the  Mohawks,  peace 
had  been  concluded,  the  French  in  their  treaty  had 
especially  provided  for  the  return  of  Poncet,  and 
the  Jesuit  found  himself  again  engaged  in  the 
hard  duties  of  a  wilderness  mission. 

An  Indian  peace  is  always  more  or  less  uncer- 
tain. The  old  chiefs  and  wiser  warriors  may 
have  honest  intentions,  but  they  nave  little  con- 
trol over  the  restless  young  braves,  who  must  win 
their  laurels  or  else  remain  insignificant  in  coun- 
cil and  in  courtship.  Thus  an  irruption  is  apt  at 
any  time  to  break  out  involving  the  whole  tribe. 


I 


i 


CANADA   TN    DANGER. 


91 


The  Iroquois  would  not  be  satisfied  until  they 
had  exterminated  the  Hurons.  The  Mohawks 
and  Onondagas  both  laid  plans  to  entice  the  rem- 
nant of  these  people  into  their  own  nations,  that 
tiiey  might  murder  the  warriors  and  increase 
their  own  numbers  by  the  adoption  of  the  women 
and  children. 

When  the  Mohawks  had  returned  Poncet,  they 
took  occasion  to  secretly  invite  the  Hurons,  in 
the  friendliest  manner,  to  move  to  their  towns. 
These  doomed  Indians  knew  well  what  this  meant. 
They  came  to  the  French  in  terror  for  advice. 
But  the  struggling  colony  could  not  help  them. 
It  was  doubtful  whether  she  could  save  herself 
from  the  clutches  of  these  terrible  people.  The 
Hurons  promised  to  comply,  but  meanwhile  put 
off  the  time  of  their  removal  under  various  ex- 
cuses. 

The  Onondagas,  more  wily  still,  invited,  or 
rather  commanded,  the  French  to  plant  a  Jesuit 
colony  in  their  midst,  hoping  thus  to  draw  the 
Hurons,  who  loved  the  missionaries,  into  their 
towns.  Now  it  was  the  Frenchmen's  turn  to 
look  aghast.  But  the  brave  missionaries  turned 
to  this  as  a  new  field  of  labor,  braving  martyr- ' 
dom,  and  hoping  to  cultivate  a  lasting  peace  be- 
tween the  Six  Nations  and  France.     The  French 


! 


! 


llil 
i!  ! 


92 


HRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


agreed  to  the  proposition  of  the  Onondagas,  but 
began  by  vsending  as  an  experimental  ambassador 
Father  Simon  Le  Moyne  into  the  country  of  the 
Six  Nations. 


il 


lii 


hi 


fe 


CHAPTER  X. 

IN  THE  lion's  jaws. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1654,  Le  Moyne  set  out 
on  his  dangerous  mission,  accompanied  by  a  young 
Frenchman  and  several  Indians.  He  seems  to  have 
had  the  keenest  enjoyment  of  the  wild  woods  life. 
On  arriving  at  the  capitol,  or,  as  the  Indians  would 
term  it,  the  council-house,  of  the  Six  Nations,  among 
the  Onondagas,  the  Jesuit  was  received  with  the 
warmest  welcome.  Crowds  of  Indians  came  out 
to  meet  him.  He  was  feasted  upon  roasted  corn 
and  bread  made  from  the  pulp  of  green  corn,  which 
is  considered  a  choice  dainty  among  the  Indians. 
He  was  called  brother,  uncle,  and  cousin  by  the  af- 
fectionate Indians.  "  I  never  had  so  many  rela- 
tives," said  he.  To  the  Jesuit's  great  joy  he  found 
that  many  Hurons  who  had  been  adopted  among 
the  Onondagas  had  not  forgotten  the  teachings  of 
the  missionaries.  When  representatives  from  the 
Senecas,  Cayugas,  and  Oncidas  had  been  sum- 
moned (the  Mohawks  were  angry  that  the  am- 
bassador   had    not  first  been  sent    to    them),  a 


94 


IIRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


council  was  opened.  In  the  midst  of  the  council- 
house,  among  the  assembled  chiefs  and  warriors, 
Father  Le  Moyne  knelt,  praying  for  the  protection 
of  angels,  and  cursing  the  demons  naturaHy  sup- 
posed to  attend  Indians.  The  Jesuit,  well  versed 
in  the  Indian  language,  began  his  speech,  imitating 
the  flowery  oratory  of  the  savages,  using  the  tone 
ot  a  chief,  and  moving  back  and  forth  in  the  Indian 
manner  as  he  spoke.  He  had  not  forgotten  to 
bring  suitable  presents  with  him.  What  more 
natural  than  that  the  savages  should  have  been  de- 
lighted, especially  as  he  presented  them  with  four 
hatchets,  emblematical  of  encouragement  in  their 
war  with  the  Erics?  When  Le  Moyne  closed  his 
telling  speech,  the  council  -  house  resounded  with 
the  applauding  Ho !  ho!  ho !  of  chiefs  and  warriors. 
Meantime  the  Mohawks,  enraged  with  jealousy, 
and  having  no  part  in  the  Erie  war,  constantly 
threatened  the  settlements.  A  war-party  attacked 
Father  Le  Moyne  on  his  return  journey  and  killed 
all  his  Indians,  with  the  exception  of  an  Onondaga 
who  used  such  threats  that  he  and  the  Jesuit  were 
released.  There  were  several  outbreaks  on  the 
part  of  the  Iroquois  until  they  received  a  rebuff  at 
Montreal,  when  they  again  made  peace,  but  boldly 
announced  their  intention  of  still  making  war  upon 
the  neighboring   Huron  and  Algonquin  Indians. 


Y 


IN    TIIF    I-TON*S   JAWS. 


95 


The  French  were  pledged  in  every  way  to  protect 
tlicse  allies,  but  they  must  now  swalKjw  the  dose 
given  them  by  the  arrogant  Mohawks.  The  in- 
trepid Le  Moyne  made  a  trip  to  the  Mohawk 
towns  to  soothe  and  (latter  these  dreaded  Indians. 
Meantime  the  Onondagas  demanded  that  the 
promised  colony  be  planted  in  their  country.  The 
promise  was  renewed,  but  two  of  the  indefatigable 
Jesuits  were  sent  into  the  Onondaga  country  to 
gain  time.  Here  Father  Chaumonot  outdid  the 
Indians  in  their  own  style  of  oratory.  The  latter 
were  delighted.  The  Jesuits  were  answered  with 
suspiciously  word}-  and  affectionate  protestations  of 
friendship.  Meantime  the  fathers  saw  ominous 
signs  of  the  bloodthirsty  mood  of  the  Six  Nations. 
Erie  prisoners  were  tortured,  and  the  adopted 
Hurons  were  killed  on  the  most  trivial  provoca- 
t'ums.  The  Jesuits  perceived  tnat  if  the  French  . 
colony  w^ere  founded  at  Onondaga  it  must  be 
founded  quickly.  The  Indians  now^  not  only  offered 
urgent  invitations,  but  they  began  to  threaten. 
The  state  of  the  case  must  be  set  before  the 
authorities  at  Quebec  immediately.  It  was  w^ith 
difficulty  that  Father  Dablon  procured  an  escort 
on  his  dangerous  return  journey  to  the  colony, 
over  thawing  ice,  through  slush,  and  in  spring 
rains.     After  long  and  anxious  council  at  Quebec, 


96 


BRANT  AND   KKD   JACKET. 


it  was  decided  to  found  the  colony  at  Onondaga. 
The  Jesuits  l)()re  tlie  expense,  and  the  Jesuits 
undertiKjk  tiie  dangenjus  mission.  Accompanied 
by  some  forty  or  fifty  soldiers  and  civilians,  Huron, 
Onondaga,  and  Seneca  Indians,  the  Jesuits  set  out 
in  boats  and  canoes,  watched  from  the  shore  by 
the  anxious  colonists. 

The  Mohawks  were  enraged  with  jealousy 
when  they  heard  of  the  expedition.  The  Ononda- 
gas  had  not  only  stolen  a  march  upon  them,  but 
the  Mohawks,  through  this  French  colony,  would 
lose  the  paying  trade  which  they  had  kept  up  with 
the  more  western  nations  in  arms,  ammunition, 
beads,  blankets,  and  brandy ;  they  having  re- 
ceived these  articles  from  the  Dutch.  Three  hun- 
dred of  their  braves  were  already  on  the  war-path. 
Ambushed  some  thirty  miles  above  Quebec,  they 
let  the  Frenchmen's  boats  pass  unmolested,  but 
they  fired  at  the  Indian  canoes,  and  falling  upon 
as  many  of  the  Indians  as  they  could  catch,  they 
beat  and  tied  them.  The  Onondagas  remon- 
strated with  their  captors  for  this  breach  of  faith 
in  members  of  the  confederacy.  The  Mohawks 
immediately  pretended  to  great  astonishment,  | 
saying  they  had  taken  their  brothers  for  Huron 
Indians.  They  then  released  them,  and,  passing 
Quebec    in   the    nighttime,  placed   themselves   in 


I- 


IN     rilK    I, ION  S    I WVS. 


97 


ambush  around  the  cornfields  of  the  lluroiis. 
When  \hv  latter  caiiu'  to  work,  they  succeeded  in 
killing  six  and  oai)turin<^  cij^hty.  the  riMnaindei' 
seekiiif^  refuij^e  in  their  fort. 

The  ins(jlent  Mohawks  now  [nissed  before  Que- 
bec in  broad  daylight,  dis[)layin<^  their  booty  and 
forcinj^  their  captives,  many  of  whom  were  girls, 
to  dance  in  the  canoes.  Some  of  the  Mohawks 
evert  landed  and  plundered  the  houses  in  the 
neiirhborhood  of  Ouebec  fn^m  which  the  inhabi- 
tants  had  fled.  Still  the  I^^rench  dared  not  make 
a  move.  VVith  a  part  of  their  colony  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  wSix  Nations  they  were  helpless.  The 
captives  were  carried  to  the  Mohawk  towns  ;  six 
of  them  were  burned  and  the  remainder  were 
ado})ted. 

Meanwhile  the  adventurous  little  band  of  colon- 
ists were  making  their  way  to  Onondaga.  The 
Indians  of  their  party  came  upon  a  band  of  Mo- 
hawks, whom  they  robbed,  venting  on  them  their 
revenge  for  the  indignities  they  had  received  at 
the  hands  of  their  nation.  At  another  time  they 
heard  a  loud  wail  in  the  woods.  Beating  their 
drums  to  announce  that  they  were  Frenchmen, 
they  were  answered  by  the  appearance  of  a  fright- 
fully scarred  and  emaciated  Huron.  He  had  been 
through    the    first     stage   of    Mohawk    burnings 


98 


DRANT  AND    KED   JACKKT. 


and  torture;  his  tormentors  had  lain  down  to 
sleep,  prepared  to  continue  their  amusement  when 
they  awakened.  The  poor  savage  had  managed  to 
escape  from  his  bonds,  and  had  fled,  naked  as  he 
was,  to  the  woods.  He  had  wandered  for  fifteen 
days,  living  upon  what  wild  strawberries  he  could 
find.  The  French  fed  the  happy  fellow  and  gave 
him  a  canoe,  that  he  might  reach  his  home  in 
safety.   '  -     '         ' 

Before  the  adventurers  had  ncarcd  their  desti- 
nation   their  provisions    were   gone,  fishing    had 
failed  them,  most  of  their  Indians  had   deserted, 
and  the   Father  Superior   was  sick.     They  were 
forced  to  live  upon  the  dried  and  weather-beaten 
cranberries  of  the  last  year's  growth  which  they 
found.     It  was  with  faint  and  discouraged  hearts 
that  they  began  the  ascent  of  the  Oswego,  when 
they  were  met  by  three  canoes  laden  with  corn 
and  salmon,  sent  by  the  Onondagas  as  a  welcome. 
The  adventurers  landed  at  Onondaga  Lake  with 
impressive  pomp.     Their   five    miriature    cannons 
were  fired,  and  the  party   approached  the  shore 
four  canoes  abreast,  headed  by  their  white  banner 
embroidered  with  the  name  of  Jesus.     The  "black 
robes,"  as  the  Indians  called  the  Jesuits,' among 
the  bright,  glittering  costumes  of  the  soldiers,  the 
picturesque  dress  of  woodsmen,  and  the  gala  paint 


IN  THE  lion's  jaws. 


99 


and  ornaments  of  the  Indians  made  a  bright 
show. 

The  Frenchmen  immediately  began  the  erection 
of  their  fort  on  the  lake  shore.  The  Jesnits,  with 
an  escort  of  soldiers,  went  on  to  Onondaga,  some 
fifteen  miles  farther.  Here  a  national  council  was 
held,  attended  by  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Onondagas, 
Cayugas,  and  Senecas.  The  French  were  feasted 
and  \vondered  at.  Some  Mohawks  alone  showed 
a  sarcastic  turn  of  mind,  but  they  were  quickly  put 
down  by  the  ready  wit  of  Father  Chaumonot. 
Here  the  Jesuits  attended  the  council,  here  a  tiny 
chapel  was  built,  and  the  missionary  work  went 
forward. 

Meantime,  in  spite  of  heat,  mosquitoes,  and  sick- 
ness, a  palisaded  fort  arose  at  Onondaga  Lake ; 
and  the  banner  of  France  was  planted  deep  within 
the  continent,  where  it  might  bid  defiance  to  the 
encroachments  of  the  Dutch. 

In  their  first  affectionate  reception  the  Jesuits 
had  thought  that  if  the  Indians  should  murder 
them  it  would  be  "  from  fickleness,  and  not  from 
premeditated  treachery,"  but  daily  intimacy  with 
the  savages  soon  showed  them  the  unsafe  ground 
on  which  they  trod.  Still  the  fathers  labored, 
hoped,  and  endured,  travelling  on  their  missionary 
labors  among  all  the  tribes  of  the  confederacy  ex- 


lOO 


l^RANT   AND    RFD    fArKFT. 


ccpt  the  M()ha\vk.  The  Jesuits  found  that  their 
iuilucuce  was  nioslly  with  tlic  woiiuMi,  and  upon 
this  tiicy  louiidcd  <>rcat  hopes,  as  women  were 
very  inlluenlial  anioui^  tiie  Iroquois,  holdini^  a 
couneil  of  tiieir  own  and  senchnj^*  a  delegate  to  the 
councils  of  the  sachems. 

Tlie  remnant  of  the  ITurons  had  abandoned  the 
island  of  Orleans  and  fortified  theuKselves  at  One- 
bee,  under  the  very  walls  of  the  fort.  But  in  the 
spring-  followin<2-  the  establishment  of  the  French 
in  I  he  Irocjuois  country  those  insatiable  tyrants, 
the  Mohawks,  descended  upon  the  remaining  band 
to  carry  it  into  bondage.  Still  the  wc'dk  com- 
mander of  the  French  made  no  resistance,  and  the 
Mohawks,  becoming-  more  and  more  overbearing 
as  they  found  their  power,  sent  insolent  messages 
to  the  fort  and  demanded  boats  in  which  to  carry 
olf  their  captixes.  No  boats  wxre  to  be  found, 
however,  and  the  Intlians  were  forced  to  make 
S(Mne,  into  Avhicli  they  loaded  as  many  as  they 
could  of  the  unhappy  Hurons. 

The  Onondagas  were  furious  with  jealousy 
when  they  found  the  Mohawks  thus  getting  the 
advantaire  over  them.  A  band  of  their  warriors 
innnediately  went  down  to  Quebec  and  brought 
home  most  of  the  remainder  of  the  Flurons.  The 
Five  Nations  were  now  seething  with  savage  pas- 


!  I 


IN  TTTE   UON'?;   jaws. 


lot 


;  their 

upon 

were 

liiii^    a 

to  the 


ccl  the 
t  Que- 
in  the 
French 
y  ran  Is, 
ir  band 
:  com- 
nd  the 
)earin<j^ 
;ssages 
)  carry 

found, 
make 

;    they 

^alousy 
ng  the 
arriors 
rought 
The 
re  pas- 


sions.    A   chief  who  had   been  for  a  fourlh  time 
rebuffed    in   his    courlshij)    of  a  Cf/Dvertcd   Huron  \ 
l!;]v\  killed    her  with   one  blow  of   his   tomahawk.  ' 
This  was  followed  by  the  massacre  of  seven  more  I 
captives  in  the  very  face  of  one  of  the  Jesuits, 

The  next  year  was  a  desperate  one  with  the 
colony  at  Onondaga.  The  entire  force  of  Mohawk 
warriors  poured  out  in  a  war  up^m  the  Algon- 
quins  of  Canada.  Meanwhile  war-belts  were  cir- 
culating. An  army  of  twelve  hundred  warriors 
from  all  of  the  Five  Nations  was  gathering.  Tha 
settlements  upon  the  St.  Lawrence  were  a  prey  to 
Iroquois  dejiredations.  "  They  aj)proach  like 
foxes,"  said  a  Jesuit,  "attack  like  lions,  and  disap- 
pear like  birds."  Three  Frenchmen  were  killed 
near  Montreal.  Meantime,  a  man  of  more  force 
was  in  command  at  Quebec.  Me  seized  twelve 
Iroquois  to  serve  as  hostages.  The  Indians  were  "" 
enraged.  They  demanded  the  release  of  the 
])risoners,  but  they  received  a  very  decided  refusal. 

Affairs  grew  more  and  more  threatening  at  the 
Onondaga  mission.  The  young  warriors,  less 
crafty  than  their  elders,  displayed  the  prevailing 
thirst  for  blood.  Huron  captives  were  murdered 
from  time  to  time.  Rumors  often  came  to  the 
ears  of  the  French  that  a  plot  was  afoot  and  that 
their  lives  were  in  jeopardy.     At  last  a  dying  In- 


i 


I02 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


dian,  doubtless  attended  at  his  deathbed  by  the 
Jesuits,  lioldin^LT  out  hopes  of  lieaveu  and  threaten- 
ing- with  future  punishment,  confessed  that  the 
French  were  to  be  taken  prisoners.  The  Fi\e 
Nations  would  then  descend  upon  Quebec,  torture 
their  French  prisoners  in  the  eyes  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, and  thus  force  them  to  such  terms  as  the  In- 
dians miglit  choose.  This  plot  would  already 
have  been  carried  out  had  it  not  been  for  the 
detention  of  the  twelve  hostasres  at  Quebec, 
which  somewhat  embarrassed  the  plotters. 

The  French  at  Onondaga  sent  hasty  messen- 
gers to  bring  in  the  Jesuits  from  the  mission  out- 
postF.  The  little  band  was  dl  soon  gathered  with- 
in the  palisaded  house  at  the  lake.  Around  them 
encamped  the  watchful  Indians.  That  dissembled 
friendliness  prevailed  which  always  precedes  an 
Indian  massacre.  The  Jesuits  were  n(3t  to  be  out- 
done in  dissimulation.  An  observer  would  have 
supposed  the  Indians,  who  lounged  in  and  out  of 
the  fort  as  usual,  and  the  Jesuits,  who  dispensed 
their  wonted  hospitality,  to  be  the  firmest  and 
most  unsuspicious  of  friends. 

The  colony  must  make  a  speedy  escape  or  it 
was  lost.  It  seemed  impossible  to  effect  escape  in 
the  faces  of  the  suspicious  Onondagas,  and,  first  of 
all,  the  Frenchmen  were  without  boats.  The  Jesuits 


IN   THE    LION'S   JAWS. 


103 


by  the 
irealcn- 
lat  the 
ic  Five 
torture 
inhabit- 
thc  lu- 
ll ready 
for  the 
Quebec, 

messen- 

on  out- 

d  with- 

:l  them 

em  bled 

des  an 

be  oiit- 

d  have 

out  of 

:)cnsed 

st  and 

e  or  it 
ape  in 
first  of 
Jesuits 


laid  their  plans.  There  was  an  empty  loft  above 
their  mission-house.  !  lore  the  eolony's  carpenters 
were  set  to  work  to  secretly  build  two  large  boats. 
It  must  have  been  a  dilficult  taSk  to  procure  the 
material  and  do  the  work  without  arousing  sus- 
picions in  the  minds  of  the  surrounding  Indians. 
The  boats  were  built,  however,  and  now  the 
most  dangerous  problem  yet  remained  to  be 
solved,  how  the  boats  were  to  be  launched  and 
the  escape  effected.  ^ 

There  was  an  institution  among  the  Indians 
known  as  the  medicine-feast.  It  was  celebrated  in 
behalf  of  some  Indian  who  was  believed  to  be 
thus  saved  from  some  supernatural  trouble,  and 
who  took  no  part  in  the  feast  himself.  The 
esjiccial  characteristic  of  the  feast  was  that  the 
f casters  were  obliged  to  eat  until  the  object  of 
their  anxieties  consented  that  they  should  stop. 
The  efficacy  of  this  superstitious  institution  seemed 
to  have  consisted  in  the  amount  eaten,  and  Indians 
were  sometimes  known  thus  to  have  ruined  their 
health  for  life  in  behalf  of  some  friend.  The 
Jesuits  had  always  denounced  the  mcclicine-fcast 
as  an  institution  of  the  devil,  i)ut  lliev  now  planned 
to  take  advantage  of  the  superstition  of  the  sav- 
ages within  whose  clutches  they  were.  A  young 
Frenchman  who  had    been  adopted  by  an  Indian 


ff 


104 


BRANT    AND    RED   JACKET. 


went  and  told  his  adopted  father  that  he  had 
dreamed  that  he  would  soon  die,  unless  a  nicdiciiie- 
feast  were  given  in  his  behalf.  Dreams  were 
oracles  among  the  Indians,  and  thc}^  immediately 
set  a  day  for  the  ceremony.  The  French  killed 
their  hogs  and  robbed  their  store  to  furnish  a 
plentiful  feast.  When  the  appointed  night  came, 
the  festivities  were  begun  with  dancing  and  games, 
at  which  the  Jesuits  offered  rewards.  Soon  the 
great  steaming  kettles  were  brought  in,  and  each 
Indian  filled  the  wooden  bowl  which  he  had 
brought  with  him  and  fell  to  work.  The  feast 
was  accompanied  by  the  French  musicians  with 
drum,  trumpet,  and  cymbal.  We  may  be  sur  ; 
they  redoubled  their  noise  when  they  knew  that 
those  not  [)resent  at  the  feast  were  stealing  down 
the  stairs  of  the  mission-house,  and  out  to  the  lake 
shore  with  the  boats  wliich  wore  to  save  them. 
The  Indians  continued  to  irorPTC.  Airain  and  airain 
they  begged  the  young  Frenchman  to  release 
them. 

"Will  you  let  me  die?"  cried  he.  And  the  In- 
dians continued  to  eat.  It  was  nearing  midnight. 
At  last  the  young  man  said :  "  That  will  do,  you 
have  eaten  enough;  my  life  is  saved.  Now  you 
can  sleep  till  we  come  in  the  morning  and  call  you 
to  prayers/' 


IN    TTIF:    LTr)N  S   JAWS. 


T05 


LjlcilSC 


ic  Ill- 
light, 
you 
you 
I  you 


One  of  the  Frenchmen  played  softly  on  the 
vioHn,  and  the  stuffed  Indians  were  soon  engagctl 
in  sleeping  off  the  excesses  of  the  feast.  Now  the 
Frenchmen  slipped  away  from  the  slee})ing  assem- 
bly and  stole  down  to  the  lake  shore,  where  they 
found  the  rest  of  their  companions  alread}'  in  the 
boats.  It  was  a  March  night,  and  the  snow  was 
falling.  The  winter's  ice  was  broken  up,  but  the 
lake  was  covered  with  a  thiji  coating.  Men  in  the 
foremost  boat  broke  a  road  through  this  crust 
with  clubs,  and  the  boats  rowed  swiftly  for  the 
outlet. 

When  the  Indians  waked  in  the  morning-  from 
their  heavy  slumbers,  they  wondered  that  they 
were  not  summoned  to  prayers,  and  were  amazed 
at  the  stillness  which  reigned  about  the  mission- 
house  and  within  the  palisades  of  the  little  fort. 
Those  who  had  lived  here  for  nearly  two  years 
had  now  left  Onondaga  Lake  far  behind.  After  u 
time  the  Indians  broke  into  the  Frenchmen's 
buildings,  but  found  them  deserted.  They 
searched  for  footsteps,  but  the  falling  snow  had  ob, 
literated  the  tracks  of  the  night  before.  They 
knew  that  the  Frenchmen  had  no  t)oats,  and  they 
concluded  that  the  Jesuits  liad  bv  magic  flown 
away  through  the  au"  with  their  lollowcrs. 


CHAPTER   XI. 


WHAT   SEVENTEEN  YOUNG   MEN  DTD. 


For  the  next  two  or  three  years  the  Five 
Nations  kept  up  that  constant  petty  warfare  with 
the  Canadian  settlements  with  which  Indians  de- 
light to  harass  their  fMiemies.  Brave  soldiers  and 
brave  priests  lost  their  lives  under  the  blow  of  the 
Iroquois  tomahawk.  The  adventurers  and  nns- 
sionaries  who  came  to  Canada,  many  of  them 
courting  martyrdom,  believed  that  their  cause  was 
a  holy  one,  and  that  the  Iroquois  warriors  were  led 
on  by  the  very  hand  of  Satan  himselt.  "  I  came 
here  only  to  die  in  the  service  of  God,"  said  Major 
Closse,  who  was  afterv/ards  killed  by  the  Iroquois, 
"  and  if  I  thought  I  could  not  die  here  I  would 
leave  this  country  to  fight  the  Turks,  that  I  might 
not  be  deprived  of  such  a  glory." 

♦'  Hobgoblins,"  a  chronicler  of  these  times  calls 
the  Iroquis,  who  "sometimes  appeared  at  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  assailing  us  w^ith  abuse;  sometimes 
they  glided  stealthily  into  the  midst  of  the  fields, 
to  surprise  the  men  at  work;  sometimes  they  ap- 


WHAT  SEVENTEEN  YOUNG   MEN  DID.        107 


j^roiichcd  the  houses,  hiinissin;;  us  without  ceasing;, 
and,  Hke  importunate  harpies  or  birds  of  prey, 
swooping  down  on  us  whenever  they  could  take  us 
unawares." 

In  the  spring  of  1660,  some  Algonquin  allies  of  the 
French  captured  a  Mohcgan  Indian  who  had  been 
adopted  among  the  Iroquois.  He  was  sentenced 
to  the  usual  cruel  death  of  the  Indians.  He  was 
first  instructed  in  religion  and  baptized  by  the 
Jesuits,  who  cared  not  to  raise  their  hands  to  save 
b!)dily  torment,  but  looked  out  (^nly  for  the  future 
welfare  of  the  savages.  In  fact  they  felt  surer  of 
heaven  for  these  untamable  Iroquois  if  they  could 
but  pass  first  through  the  fire.  This  particular 
Indian  made  a  revelation  which  fell  like  a  thunder- 
bolt upon  Quebec.  There  was  something  more 
serious  afoot  than  the  ordinary  harassing  warfare. 
Twelve  hundred  .Iroquois  were  on  the  war-path, 
some  of  them  now  near  Quebec,  preparing  to  kill 
the  Governor,  destroy  the  town,  and  then  turn 
upon  Three  Rivers  and  Montreal.  The  inhabitants 
were  terror-stricken ;  all  fled  within  the  town ; 
every  measure  was  taken  to  be  ready  for  the  terri- 
ble attack. 

Some  three  years  before,  a  3'oung  man  of  good 
fiimily  named  Oaidac  had  come  to  Canada,  aml)i- 
tious  to  wipe  out  some  stain  upon  his  name  in  the 


Il  I 


i 


loK 


BRANT   AM)    KVA)   JACKKT. 


Old  World,  by  brave  deeds  in  the  New  World. 
1  le  held  the  office  of  commandant  at  Montreal,  and 
here  he  was  the  leader  of  a  band  of  sixteen 
younjj^  men,  as  daring  as  himself.  A  month  before 
the  alarm  at  Quebec,  Daidac  asked  i)crmission  of 
the  governor  to  lead  his  adventurous  little  com- 
pany in  an  expedition  against  the  Iroquois.  The 
young  men  had  all  sworn  a  solemn  oath  never  to 
accept  quarter.  When  they  had  gained  the  per- 
mission of  the  governor,  they  made  their  wills, 
attended  the  confessional,  and  received  the  sacra- 
ments. Indian-fighting  had  become  an  occupation 
with  the  brave  inhabitants  of  Montreal.  They 
envied  the  ycnmg  men  their  hazardous  exi)editi()ii. 
Some  of  them  begged  the  yoinig  men  to  wait  until 
the  spring  sowing  was  ovxt  and  tliey  would  go 
with  them.  But  Daulac  refused  ;  the  young  men 
wanted  the  glory  to  themselves. 

The  little  band  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
the  Ottawa,  and  the  Ottawa  to  the  rapids  known 
as  the  Long  Saut.  Mere  they  stopped,  for  here 
the  Iroquois  were  sure  to  pass.  They  were  joined 
at  the  Long  Saut  by  some  forty  Indians,  the  last 
renuiant  of  the  Huron  warriors,  under  their  noted 
chief  Aunahotaha,  with  a  band  of  conveited  Ab 
gonquins.  'Phese  hidians  had  followed  them,  am, 
bitious  tu  join  in  the  adventure. 


WTTAT   SEVENTEEN    YOUNr.    MEN    HIT). 


109 


The  Frenchmen  had  found  a  rude  little  fort,  of 
lo^s,  planted  in  a  circle,  which  had  been  left  by 
an  Algonquin  war-party.  This  would  serve  them 
for  defence,  and  here  they  encamped.  Frenchmen 
and  Indians  joining  in  prayer  three  times  a  day. 
They  had  planted  themselves,  without  knowing  it, 
upon  the  road  of  a  large  part  of  the  Iroquois  army, 
which  was  descending  iq)on  Quebec  to  de- 
stroy it. 

The  Frenchmen  had  been  here  but  a  few  days, 
when  their  sccjuts  came  running  into  camp,  saying 
tliat  two  Irocjuois  canoes  were  ascending  the 
rapids.  Daulac  cpiickly  placed  his  men  in  ambush 
where  he  thought  the  enemy  likely  to  land.  They 
fired  on  the  Iroquois  Indians,  but  so  |)recipitately 
that  two  escaped  to  carry  the  news  to  some  two 
hundred  warriors  who  were  now  on  their  way 
down  the  rapids.  These  were  almost  instantly 
upon  Daulac's  band,  leaving  them  scarcely  time  to 
get  into  their  fort.  The  Iroquois  n.ade  a  disorderly 
attack,  but  met  a  sharp  repulse.  They  then  set  to 
work  to  build  themselves  a  rough  fort  in  the 
neighboring  woods.  Meantime  the  French 
strengthened  their  fort  as  best  they  might,  planting 
a  row  of  stakes  within  the  palisades,  and  filling  the 
spaces  between  the  two  with  earth  and  stones. 
They  also  prepared  rude  loopholes,  at  each  of  which 


\ 


I  lO 


IJKANT   AND   RED   JACKET. 


"i: 


i 

if 


i  iC! 


three  iiu'ii  were  stationed.  Tliey  liad  not  linished, 
\v  Ikii  the  Inxjuois  were  a^aiii  upon  tlieni,  vvilli  their 
own  hircli  eanoes  broken  up  and  hhizint;,  with  wliieh 
to  lire  the  pahsades  of  the  liltle  fort.  Tlie  Inxpiois 
were  aj^ain  (h"iven  baek  by  a  steady  lire  from  the 
Freneh  and  IncHans  within.  vXgain  tliey  attacked, 
and  a<ijain  they  were  rei)ulsed,  leaving  many  dead 
behind  them,  anionic  whom  was  one  of  tlie  piinci- 
pal  Seneca  chiefs.  Some  of  the  French  made  a 
rush  from  tlie  fort,  cutoff  liis  head,  and  raised  it  on 
the  pahsades,  to  tlie  rai^e  of  the  yelliui^  Inxpiois. 
A  third  time  they  attacked,  antl  a  third  time  they 
were  defeated. 

The  batlled  Indians  (Icsjiatched  a  messenger  to  a 
band  of  five  hundred  Iroquois  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Richelieu,  where  they  were  only  waiting-  for  the 
remainder  of  the  army  to  attack  Quebec.  The 
grand  plan  must  now  all  be  delayed  by  this  little 
band  behind  their  rude  palisades.  For  iive  days 
the  two  hundred  Iroquois  kept  up  a  harassing  fire 
from  behind  trees,  and  waited  for  reinforcements. 
INIean while  the  inmates  of  the  fort  had  but  dry 
hominy  for  food,  a.nd  were  suffering  for  water. 
Under  cover  of  a  fire  from  the  fort,  some  of  them 
managed  to  nm  down  to  the  river  and  get  water 
in  whnt  few  vessels  they  had.  Hut  ihis  was  but  a 
drop  to  the  thirsty  men.     They  dug  a  hole  withm 


J*. 

k 


WHAT   SEVENTEKN    YOUN(;    MKN    DID. 


I  II 


tlic  palisades  and  at  last,  reached  a  little  imiddy 
water,  with  which  they  must  content  them- 
selves. 

Ad()i)ted  Tlurons  were  amongr  the  besiegers,  and 
they  coaxed  over  those  within  the  fort  who  were 
snfferin<2^  from  hunger  and  thirst.  One  by  one  they 
deserted  over  the  palisades,  but  the  brave  Annaho- 
taha  stood  by  his  p(;St,  and  when  he  saw  his 
nephew,  who  went  by  the  significant  name  of  The 
Mouth  among  the  French,  join  the  renegades,  he 
fired  his  pistol  after  him. 

After  five  days,  a  chorus  of  war-whoops  an- 
nounced the  arrival  of  the  reinforcements.  8eve?i 
hundred  Iroquois  to  reduce  a  little  band  of  twenty- 
three  within  a  poor  pen  of  a  fort.  The  Irocpiois 
advanced  to  the  attack.  But  the  P>enchmen  were 
ready  for  them.  Being  entirely  covered  them- 
selves, with  a  steady  fire  from  muskets  and  great 
musketoons,  wdiich  scattered  scraps  of  lead  and 
iron,  they  made  havoc  among  the  crowds  of  Iro- 
quois warriors.  Three  days  followed  each  other 
in  successive  attacks,  but  made  in  the  disorderly 
way  common  among  the  Indians. 

With  their  well-known  fickleness,  the  Indians  were 
now  discouraged,  and  would  fain  have  abandoned 
the  siege.  But  the  pride  of  the  Five  Nations  was 
in  the  way  of  this.    Volunteers  to  lead  in  an  assault 


112 


BRANT  AND    RED   JACKET. 


M' 


!■  I 


10- ^    i    H! 


IM  '' 


!l!lt 


I  i  :H 


were  called  for.  Buncllcs  of  little  sticks  were 
thrown  upon  the  ground,  and  those  brave  enough 
to  dare  the  front  of  the  battle  picked  them  up. 
Large  shields  were  made  of  split  logs,  and,  with 
this  protection,  the  army  advanced  on  the  poor 
little  fort  with  its  worn  and  fainting  defenders. 
Notwithstanding  their  brave  fire,  the  Indians 
reached  the  palisades  and  commenced  hewing  to 
make  v  breach.  Those  who  hewed  were  below 
the  range  of  shot.  Daulac  making  a  sort  of  gren- 
ade of  a  musketoon,  crammed  to  the  mouth  with 
[)owder,  hghted  the  fuse,  and  attempted  to  throw 
it  into  their  midst,  but  it  struck  on  the  palisades, 
and  fell  back  to  burst  among  the  little  band  within, 
killinii:  some  of  them.  In  the  confusion  of  the  mo- 
ment,  the  savages  gained  the  loopholes  and  fired 
upon  the  inmates.  An  instant,  and  they  had  made 
a  breach.  Firm  to  their  vow  never  to  surrender, 
Daulac  and  his  companions  sprang  to  the  breach 
and  fought.  This  was  soon  followed  by  other 
breaches.  Daulac  was  killed,  but  the  survivors, 
w^ith  hatchet  and  knife,  battled  against  the  furious 
assailants.  They  were  not  to  be  taken  alive,  and 
the  Iroquois  were  forced  to  fall  back  and  shoot  them 
down.  Truly  these  young  men  were  the  bravest 
of  the  brave.  So  the  Iroquois  thought;  for  after 
burning  those  bodies  that  had  a  little  life  lingering 


WHAT   SEVENTEEN    YOUNG    MEN   DID. 


IT3 


vvitliin  them,  and  falling  in  their  thirst  for  blood 
upon  the  miserable  rene<j^a(le  Ilurons,  they  aban- 
doned the  attaek  on  Quebec ;  for  if  seventeen 
Frenchmen  could  fight  thus,  what  could  the 
whole  colony  do?  Canada  was  again  saved 
from  destruction. 


:.r 


I 


?  ''i 


'nil 

iii  ill! ; 


I  ^:: 


CHAPTER  XIT. 


THE     C  O  N  O  U  E  R  ()  R  S 


Meantime  tribe  after  tribe  had  fallen  under  the 
tomahawk  of  the  relentless  Five  Nations.  An  In- 
dian tribe  known  as  the  Neutral  Nation,  because 
they  had  taken  no  part  in  the  wars  of  the  Hurons 
and  Iroquois,  nevertheless  quickly  went  the  road  of 
the  former  nation  under  the  furious  attacks  of  the 
conquerors.  The  Neutral  Nation  deserve  no  sym- 
pathy, for  they,  on  their  part,  had  just  been  engaged 
in  an  equally  destructive  and  barbarous  war  upon 
a  more  western  neighbor,  the  Nation  of  Fire. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Erie  and  Iroquois  war, 
which,  as  usual  in  Indian  wars,  began  by  an  act  of 
treachery  upon  one  side,  followed  by  revenge  from 
the  other,  an  Onondaga  chief  was  captured  by  the 
Erics. 

He  mannged  to  show  them  their  own  rash- 
ness in  entering  into  a  war  with  the  confederacy, 
and  coaxed  them  to  conciliate  their  powerful 
neighbors  by  saving  his  life.  This  the  Eries  agreed 
to  do,  and,  according  to  custom,  the  chief  was  pre- 


THE   CONQUERORS. 


I  I 


scntcd  to  an  Eric  woman  In  place  of  her  brother 
who  had  been  imirdcrcd  by  the  InKjuois.  i'hc 
woman  was  absent  at  the  time.  The  adopted  chief 
was  feasted  and  entertained  ;  bnt  when  the  womnn 
returned  she  refused  to  accept  the  new  brother 
assii^ned  her,  and  demanded  that  he  should  be 
burnt  in  revenf^e  for  the  death  of  her  rehitive. 
In(Uan  custom  was  inexorable  :  the  chief  suffered 
death.  To  the  last  he  warned  the  Eries  that  in 
burning  him  they  were  burning  their  nation.  His 
jjrophecy  proved  true.  The  Iroquois  stormed  the 
Erie  stronghold,  carried  their  elm-bark  canoes  for 
shields,  and,  placed  against  the  palisades,  climbed 
up  the  cross-pieces  of  the  canoes  and  scaled  the 
walls.  They  did  not  cease  until  they  had  obliter- 
ated the  Eries. 

For  twenty -five  years  the  Five  Nations  now 
fought  the  Andaste  Indians,  another  nation  of  their 
own  language.  The  Andaste  war  was  a  most 
stubborn  one,  but  it  resulted  in  the  ruin  of  this 
tribe  also.  The  Iroquois  themselves  suffered  terri- 
bly from  this  constant  warfare.  If  it  had  not  been 
for  the  numbers  of  prisoners  whom  they  adopted 
and  converted  into  Iroquois,  the  Five  Nations 
would  also  have  destroyed  themselves  as  a  power- 
ful Indian  nation.  "  But,"  said  an  Iroquois  orator, 
"our  young  men  are  too  warlike  to  stay  at  home." 


!i 


n 


ii6 


BRANT   AND   RED  JACKET. 


They  made  at  one  time  a  terrible  raid  upon  the 
Illinois  Indians.  When  the  young^  warriors  ol  the 
Five  Nations  lacked  other  employment,  they  would 
attack  even  the  Indians  of  the  south,  and  the  wan- 
dering tribes  of  the  <;Teat  Algonquin  family  were  a 
constant  prey  to  their  crual  war-parties. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


HOW    A    GIRL   DEFENDED   A   FORT. 

To  the  events  wc  havx  related  ensued  a  series  of 
French  expeditions  into  the  heart  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions, usually  resulting  in  a  burned  village  or  two 
and  the  destruction  of  what  grain  was  found  there. 
They  always  seem  rather  ridiculous,  those  severe 
•blows  at  an  Indian  nation  by  which  white  men, 
both  French  and  English,  have  proposed  to 
subjugate  entirely  the  savages  attacked.  The 
mustering  of  a  great  army  at  a  great  expense  ;  the 
laborious  march  of  the  brave  soldiers  into  the  heart 
of  the  wilderness,  to  fight  cornstalks  and  butcher 
pahsades  and  bark  cabins.  The  slippery  Indians 
have  disappeared  with  all  their  movable  treasures, 
such  as  furs,  trinkets,  tools,  and  weapons.  The 
lumbering  army,  with  its  slow-moving  artillery  and 
baggage,  can  but  return  ;  and  we  do  not  blame  the 
brave  general  for  making  the  most  of  the  destruc- 
tive work  he  has  done,  and  its  salutary  effect  on 
the  Indians.  They  on  their  part  rnay  suffer  famine 
for  some   months,  but  in  a  few  months  palisades 


ii8 


l^RANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


!   I 


.  I    i:  ' 


1 


] 


and  bark  cabins  will  have  risen  on  the  ashes  of  the 
ruined  town.  These  chastisements  sometimes  did 
intimidate  the  savages,  but  more  often  the}^  resulted 
in  a  much  more  terrible  retaliation  upon  the  homes 
of  the  white  settlers.  Thus  the  island  of  Montreal 
was  once  the  scene  of  a  horrible  massacre, 
brought  about  by  such  an  incursion  into  the 
Iroquois  country. 

Until  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century 
it  was  much  the  same  old  story  of  border  warfare 
between  the  Five  Nations  and  Canada.  One  more 
anecdote  will  illustrate  the  state  of  affairs  in  which 
the  Five  Nations  kept  the  French  colony. 

There  w^as  a  settlement  called  VerchLires,  some 
twenty  miles  below  Montreal.  Settlers  must 
always  have  a  place  of  refuge.  Here  there  was  a 
fort  connected  by  a  covered  passage  with  a  block- 
house. One  October  morning  in  1692,  the  inhabi- 
tants were  in  the  fields  at  work.  There  were  but 
two  soldiers  within  the  fort.  The  commander  and 
his  wife  were  absent.  Their  daughter,  Madeleine, 
a  gir'  u  ..  'x-^n,  stood  on  the  landing  with  a  hired 
mail    .'.riv'A  ..e  heard  firing. 

"  Run,  Jiir:'o;v  fioiselle,  run  !"  cried  the  man,  "here 
come  the  Troquois !" 

Looking  around,  the  girl  saw  the  Indians  near 
at  hand.    She  ran  for  the  fort,  and  the  Indians, 


now    A   CriiL   DEFENDED    A    FORT. 


119 


seeinf^  thcv  could  not  catch  her,  fired  at  her. 
Their  bullets  whistled  around  her  and  "  made  the 
time  seem  very  long,"  as  she  afterwards  said.  As 
soon  as  Madeleine  neared  the  fort,  she  cried  out, 
"To  arms!  to  arms!"  hoping  that  she  would  get 
assistance.  But  the  two  soldiers  were  so  frightener' 
that  they  had  hidden  in  the  block-house.  When 
Madeleine  reached  the  gate  of  the  fort  she  found 
two  women  there  crj-ing  for  their  husbands,  who 
were  in  the  fields  and  had  just  been  killed. 
Madeleine  forced  them  in  and  shut  the  gate.  She 
instantly  took  command  of  the  fort,  and  went  to 
examine  her  defences.  She  found  that  some  of  the 
pahsades  had  fallen  down,  leaving  holes  through 
which  the  enemy  could  easily  enter.  She  ordered 
them  immediately  set  up,  and  even  helped  to  carry 
them  herself.  Then  the  little  commander  repaired 
to  the  block-house,  where  she  found  her  brave 
garrison  of  two,  one  man  hiding  in  a  corner  and 
the  other  with  a  lighted  match  in  his  hand. 

*'  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  that  match  ?" 
said  Madeleine. 

*'  Light  the  powder  and  blow  us  all  up," 
answered  the  soldier.  -•  . 

"  You  are  a  miserable  coward,"  said  the  girl ; 
"go  out  of  this  place." 

People  are  always  likely  to  obey,  in  time  of  panic, 


'  ii 


It'' 


120 


l^KANT   AND    RKD   JACKKT. 


the  one  person  of  resolution  and  coolness.  The 
soldier  (lid  as  Madeleine  hid.  She  then  Muni;  aside 
hei"  boiuiet,  put  on  a  hal,  and  took  a  ^un.  Made- 
leiiLc's  whole  force  consisted  of  the  above-men- 
tioned soldiers,  her  two  brothers,  of  ten  and  twelve 
}'ears  of  age,  and  an  old  man  of  eighty,  with  some 
wcMiicn  and  children. 

"Let  us  fight  to  the  death,"  said  Madeleine  to 
her  brothers.  "  We  arc  fighting  for  our  country 
and  our  religion.  Remember  that  our  father  has 
taught  you  that  gentlemen  are  born  to  shed  their 
blood  for  the  service  of  God  and  the  king." 

Madeleine  now  })laced  her  brothers  and  the 
/  soldiers  at  the  loopholes,  where  they  hred  at  the 
Indians,  who  were  cautious  about  attacking  the 
fort,  especially  as  they  did  not  know  how  large  the 
garrison  w^as.  Besides,  they  wore  yet  occupied 
in  chasing  and  killing  the  men  whom  they  had 
surprised  at  their  work.  Madeleine  commanded 
tliat  a  cannon  should  be  fired  to  impress  the  In- 
dians the  more,  and  with  the  hope  also  thus  to  warn 
some  of  the  soldiers  who  were  out  hunting.  Mean- 
time the  women  and  children  had  kept  up  a  con- 
tinual screaming.  The  girl  now  ordered  them  to 
keep  still  for  fear  the  Indians  should  be  encouraged 
by  their  fright  to  make  an  attack.  A  canoe  was 
soon  seen  in  the  river  approaching  the  landing.    It 


■1 


• 


.t 


HOW    A    (IIRI.    DKFrXDKI)    A    FORr. 


121 


:h\ 


contained  a  settler  and  his  family  who  were  tryinp^ 
to  make  their  escape  to  the  fort.  Madeleine  tried 
to  <^et  the  soldiers  to  j^o  to  their  assistance,  but 
their  new-found  coura^^^e  could  not  be  brought  u]> 
to  this  point.  The  girl  conceived  the  idea  that  if 
she  went  to  the  landing  to  meet  the  settler  and  his 
family,  the  Indians  would  believe  it  to  be  a  ruse 
to  draw  them  near  the  fort  that  a  sally  might  be 
made  upon  them.  She  stationed  the  man-servant 
at  the  gate  to  watch  it,  and,  walking  down  to  the 
landing  alone,  escorted  the  settlers  back.  The  In- 
dians did  not  touch  them.  "  We  put  so  bold  a  face 
on  il/'  she  afterwards  said,  "that  they  thought 
thev  had  more  to  fear  than  we." 

She  now  ordered  the  Iroquois  to  be  hred  upon 
whenever  they  came  in  sight.  Toward  evening  a 
violent  wind  began  to  blow,  snow  and  hail  fell,  and 
a  stormy  night  set  in.  The  little  commander 
thought  to  herself  that  this  would  be  just  the  time 
when  the  Indians  would  try  to  enter  the  fort  under 
cover  of  the  darkness.  ''I  assembled  all  my 
troops,"  said  Madeleine,  grandly  ;  "  that  is  to  say, 
six  persons." 

"  God  has  saved  us  to-day  from  the  hands  ot 
our  enemies,"  the  young  girl  said  to  them,  "  but 
we  must  take  care  not  to  fall  into  their  snares  to- 
night.    As  for  me,  I  want  you  to  see  that  I  am  not 


m 


■:i  I 


I 


122 


BRANT  AND   RKD  JACKET. 


afraid.  I  will  take  charf^c  of  the  fort  with  an  old 
man  (^f  eij^hty  and  another  who  never  fired  a  gun, 
and  you,  Pierre  Fontaine  [the  settler],  with  La 
Bont6  and  Ciachet  [the  vSoldiers],  will  go  to  the 
block-house  with  the  women  and  children,  because 
that  is  the  strongest  place ;  and  if  I  am  taken  don't 
surrender,  even  if  I  am  cut  to  pieces  and  burned 
before  your  eyes.  The  enemy  cannot  hurt  you  in 
the  block-house  if  you  make  the  least  show  of 
fight." 

Madeleine  now  stationed  her  brothers  on  two  of 
the  bastions,  while  she  and  the  servant  took  charge 
of  the  other  two.  Thus  one  girl,  a  man  who  did 
not  know  how  to  fire  a  gun,  and  two  little  boys 
kept  guard  over  the  fort  as  sentinels,  while  "  All 
wells  "  could  be  heard  from  time  to  time,  answered 
back  and  forth  from  the  fort  to  the  blook-house. 
The  night  was  very  stormy.  About  one  o'clock 
the  servant,  whose  station  was  near  the  gate, 
called  out : 

"  Mademoiselle,  I  hear  something." 

Madeleine  went  to  the  gate,  where  she  could  see 
dimly  defined  upon  the  snow-covered  ground  the 
outlines  of  what  few  cattle  the  Iroquois  had  not 
butchered.  The  other  sentinels  were  in  favor  of 
letting  them  into  the  fort. 

"  God    forbid  !"   exclaimed    Madeleine.      "  You 


I: 


i 


now    A    r.IRI.   DKFENDFI)   A    TOKT. 


123 


see 
the 
not 
of 


if'-'.i 


don't  know  all  the  tricks  of  the  savrii^^cs.  They 
are  no  doubt  followini;  the  cattle,  covered  with 
skins  of  beasts,  so  as  to  ^et  into  the  fort,  if  we  are 
simple  en:)ujj^li  to  open  the  i;atc  for  them." 

IJut  NFad-jleine  at  kist  conchided  that  she  would 
let  the  animals  in.  Siie  made  her  brothers  stand 
ready  with  their  j^uns  cocked  in  case  anythini^ 
went  wroni^,  and  so  she  and  the  man  admitted  the 
cattle  in  safety.  The  ni<j^ht  passed  without  any 
farther  incident.  The  Indians  afterwards  con- 
fessed that  they  had  held  a  coimcil  and  decided 
upon  a  plan  for  takinj^f  the  fort,  but  had  not  carried 
it  out  because  the  garrison  were  so  much  on  their 
guard. 

The  anxious  watchers  were  much  cheered  when 
day  dawned.  Everybody  now  felt  courageous 
except  Fontaine's  wife,  who  was  very  timid,  "as 
all  Parisian  woman  are,"  remarks  Madeleine.  She 
begged  her  husband  to  carry  her  to  a  place  of 
safety. 

"  I  will  never  abandon  this  fort  while 
Mademoiselle  Madeleine  is  here,"  said  her  hus- 
band. ' 

"  I  will  never  abandon  it,"  said  the  girl.  "  I 
would  rather  die  than  give  it  up  to  the  Iroquois. 
I  think  it  very  important  that  they  should  never 
get  possession  of  any  French  fort,  because  if  they 


>' 


i 


,.l 


II 


I  ! 


124 


HKANT   AND    RED   JACKl-rr. 


do  tlicy  will  think  they  can  fj^ct  others,  and  will 
be  more  hold  and  iiiiprdent  than  ever." 

Madeleine  conimanded  her  little  i^arrison  for  a 
week.  Duiinj;"  this  time  they  had  frecjuent  alarms, 
for  the  Inxjuois  still  hovered  all  about  them.  "  I 
may  say  \Vith  truth,"  said  the  little  heroine,  "that  I 
did  not  eat  or  sleep  for  twice  twenty-four  hours.  I 
did  not  irn  into  my  father's  house,  but  kept  always 
on  the  bastion,  or  went  to  the  block-house  to  see 
how  the  people  there  were  behavin*^.  I  always 
kept  a  cheerful  and  smiling  face,  and  cncouraj^ed 
my  small  company  with  the  hope  that  help  would 
come  quickly."  At  last  a  detachment  of  forty 
men,  under  a  lieutenant  named  La  Mouncrie,  were 
sent  from  Montreal  to  the  relief  of  the  fort.  They 
came  up  stealthily  in  the  night,  not  knowing 
whether  the  Iroquois  had  taken  the  fort  or  not. 
But  one  of  the  alert  sentinels  thought  he  heard  a 
sound,  and  called  out,  "  Qui  vive  ?"  The  girl  com- 
mander had  just  dropped  into  a  doze,  with  her 
head  upon  a  table  and  her  gun  lying  across  her 
arms,  when  the  sentinel  spoke  to  her,  telling  her 
that  he  had  heard  something  from  the  river.  Mad- 
eleine immediately  mounted  the  bastion. 

**  Who  are  you  ?"  cried  she. 

'*  We  are  Frenchmen :  it  is  La  Mounerie,  who 
comes  to  bring  you  help,"  was  the  answer. 


»♦ 

\ 


P 


4 
if 


a   ! 


i  1 


now    A    C.IRI,    DKI'KNDF.I)    A    FORT. 


125 


•I 


Placiiif^  a  sentinel  at  the  j^ate,  Madeleine  went 
down  to  the  river  to  meet  the  reinforcements. 

"  Monsieur,  1  surrender  my  arms  to  you,"  said 
the  ^^irl,  with  a  military  salute  to  La  ^^ouncrie. 

"Mademoiselle,  they  arc  in  j^ood  hands,"  gal- 
lantly answered  the  lieutenant. 

"  Better  than  you  think,"  said  Madeleine. 

La  Mouncrie  accompanied  her  to  the  fort,  in- 
spected it,  and  found  all  in  satisfactory  order, 
with  the  sentinels  at  their  posts. 

"  It  is  time  to  relieve  t'nem,  monsieur,"  said 
Madeleine.  "  We  have  not  been  off  our  bastions 
for  a  week." 

In  some  of  their  excursions  into  the  Iroquois 
country,  the  French  succeeded  in  doin<^  the  In- 
dians some  serious  damage.  Peace  was  at  last 
made  between  the  colony  and  its  enemies.  The 
French  governor  figuratively  buried  the  hatchet 
in  a  very  deep  hole,  which  he  covered  over  with  a 
very  big  stone,  over  which  he  ran  a  river,  that  it 
might  never  be  dug  up  again.  The  hatchet  did 
not  always  remain  quiet  in  its  grave  after  this,  but 
the  days  were  gone  when  the  Five  Nations  could 
seriously  injure  the  colony. 

With  the  new  century,  fresh  troubles  came  up- 
permost. The  Five  Nations  were  a  great  object 
of    jealousy   between    the    French    and    English 


" 


126 


!i 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


iii 


it  I 


colonies.  Both  coveted  their  trade,  and  both 
claimed  sovereignty  over  them  in  the  name  of 
their  sovereigns.  The  Five  Nations,  delighted  to 
find  tliemsclves  of  so  much  importance,  were  fickle 
in  conferring  favors,  and  refused  to  acknowledge 
the  dominion  of  either  English  or  French  king 
over  them. 

The  relations  of  the  Five  Nations  with  the 
Dutch,  and  subsequently  with  the  English,  were 
in  the  main  friendly.  Through  good  luck  the 
colony  of  New  York  had  been  thrown  into  no 
early  broil  with  these  people.  Her  own  policy 
with  regard  to  them  was  far  from  judicious.  The 
French  in  their  dealings  with  Indians  always 
studied  to  please  them,  made  them  gaudy 
presents,  flattered  their  pride,  and  accorded  with 
their  customs,  many  of  them  intermarrying  with 
the  savages.  The  English,  on  the  contrary,  were 
often  cold,  haughty,  and  indifferent.  The  present 
for  the  Iroquois  sent  yearly  from  England  was  too 
often  stolen  by  corrupt  public  officers.  The  traders 
through  whom  the  English  carried  on  their  negotia- 
tions w^ere  despised  by  the  Iroquois,  who  styled 
them  "  rum-carriers."  Meanw^hile  the  Jesuits,  who 
always  proved  themselves  very  useful  for  poUtical 
purposes,  insisted  on  pushing  themselves  into  the 
heart  of  the  Five  Nations,  where  they  exercised 


now   A   GIRL  DEFENDED   A  FORT. 


127 


more  or  less  influence  in  favor  of  France,  and 
dt)ubtless,  too,  against  the  interests  of  the  English 
colonies.  The  effects  of  the  unwise  pohcy  of  the 
English  would  probably  have  been  seriously  felt 
when  war  broke  out  between  the  two  rival  powers, 
had  it  not  been  for  a  young  Irishman  who  came  to 
America  in  the  year  1638. 


riiliMlilh> l»iM»iiiil 


CllAlTEU  XIV. 

r\  U  A  N  T  *S     P  A  r  RON. 

Till'  boautilul  vallov  ol  llir  Mohawk  Riv(M-  ivS 
nowono  oi  the  most  itMlilc  soctioiKs  ol  ihc  •Slate 
of  Now  York,  a  i(\i;i<>t»  oi  {iairy-laiins,  of  j;roat 
ritics  and  lar^'O  nuimilat  luriiii;-  cntcMpriscs.  Hnt 
awa;  oack  in  tho  colonial  (in>cs,  when  ii  was  yet 
the  vorv  Ifontioi*  post  ol  while  softlonionts,  the 
most  important  occasion  of  popular  asscinblini;; 
was  the  licneral  militia  mustei'.  On  one  such  day 
there  was  a  lar^e  i^atherinj;  of  haidy  settleivS — 
men.  women,  and  children  cliessed  in  roui;h  i;ar- 
n\ents  of  homespun  cloth.  Minified  with  the 
whites  were  Indians  in  the  various  lorms  of  lio- 
t^uois  costnmes.  riieie  weie  short  kilt  skirts  and 
iciicins,  and  moccasins  ol  l)uckskin  embroidered 
with  porcupine  quills.  Sometimes  these  were 
made  oi  red  and  l>lue  bniadcloth  bt)Ui;ht  from 
the  settlers,  and  trimmed  with  beads.  Over  their 
shoulders  and  aroimd  their  waists  they  wore  belts 
of  wampmn,  or  shell  beads,  and  over  all  the 
blankets   which   had  taken  the  place  of  robes  of 


MKANI'  S    I'A  IKoNf, 


12<) 


/ 


skills,  now  bccoiric  valii.ihlc  for  Ir.'ulr  vvilh  llic 
whiles.  The  Inchim  vvnineii  were  simil.nly 
(hcssed,  evt  ep(  lh:il  1  heir  skills  were  lorijj;ei-,  and 
tlicy  liiid,  besides,  a  iikmc  mo(h-s(  ovef^r.-itnienf, 
Conspieiioiis  amon^^  lh<;  mililia  odiceis  was  oui; 
gentleman  dressed  in  \\h'.  showy  imilonii  of  the 
lime,  lie  was  a  man  of  lall,  line  lif.;-nre  anrl  a  di^- 
nihed  and  powerfnl  fac('.  This  was  ('olonel-afler- 
wards  Sii  VVillian) — Johnson,  a  very  ^reat  man 
anion^  Ihe  lndi:ms,  and  a  very  inlhienfiai  man 
ainon^  his   hnlch  and   Scotch   neif^hhfjrs. 

A  pretty,  daring  Mohawk  ^irl,  of  ajjoiit.  sixteen 
years  ol  a^e,  stood  amon^  the  crowd  of  spe(;tii- 
fors.  l-Jij^i'if^^ed  in  hatitcr  with  a  fieiti  officer,  she 
asked  ii  she  mi^hl  momil  his  horse.  Not,  drcarri- 
in;^  that  tin;  ^irl  could  do  it,  the  officer  <(ave 
liis  |)ermission.  in  an  instant,  she  ha(J  sj^rnnj^  \.<) 
the  crupper  l)ehind  tlic  officer,  and  tliey  b(;t[i 
went  dashin<^'^  away  over  tlie  parade-f^round,  t.fic 
ji^irl's  blanket,  and  hair  flyin/^^  in  the  wind.  The 
scene  produced  a  ^rrcat  deal  of  merriment  amoDfr 
the  Ri)cct,ators,  and  Colonel  Johnson  was  then 
struck  with  the  f)cauty  of  the  Indian  maiden. 

This  IS  the  tradition  of  the  way  in  which  John- 
son's attention  was  first  drawn  to  Mr;lly  Brant, 
the  dashing  Mohawk  irirl.  He  certainlv  took  her 
to  his  house,  nominally  as  his  housekeej^er.     M(.'!ly 


.IIJ...I.J..UUUJ 


i! 


130 


liRANT  AND   KFA)  JACKET. 


Brant  considered  herself  married  to  Colonel  John- 
son according-  to  the  Indian  custom,  which  needs 
but  the  consent  of  b(Uh  parties.  She  lived  with 
him  for  the  remaider  of  his  life  and  bore  him  a 
number  of  children.  In  the  writings  of  a  lady 
who  knew  the  domestic  life  of  Johnson's  family 
well  it  is  said  that  "  Miss  Molly,"  as  she  was  styled, 
"  possessed  an  uncommonly  agreeable  person  and 
good  understanding."  This  lady,  though  she  did 
not  know  of  their  ever  being  "  formally  married 
according  to  our  custom,"  said  that  they  *'  lived 
together  in  great  union  and  affection." 

Colonel  Johnson  was  a  very  remarkable  man. 
He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  171 5,  and  was  of  a  good 
family.  He  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  to  take  charge  of  an  estate  in  the  Mohawk 
Valley  belonging  to  his  uncle,  Admiral  Sir  Peter 
Warren. 

Amons:  other  romantic  stories  told  of  him  is 
one  that  he  came  to  America  on  account  of  some 
disappointment  in  love.  He  occupied  his  time 
in  girdHng  the  trees  on  his  uncle's  land,  prepara- 
tory to  clearing  it,  and  keeping  a  country  store. 
The  enterprising  young  man  also  took  great  pains 
to  learn  the  Indian  language,  and  to  gain  the  re- 
spect of  the  savages  themselves.  There  is  a  letter 
extant  fn>m  Johnson's  uncle,  written  to  the  yor  :g 


i^ 


■4 


,-.» 


BKANT  S   PATRON. 


131 


iti 


man  during  his  first  year  in  America,  which  con- 
tains some  prudent  advice  on  which  Johnson  acted 
during  his  whole  Hfe.  In  this  letter  the  future 
baronet  is  addressed  as  "Dear  Billy."  The  young 
gentleman  vSecms  to  have  made  some  rellections  on 
the  horses  of  the  Patroon  of  Albany.  The  letter 
closes  thus : 

"  Kecj^  well  with  all  mankind.  Act  with  honor 
and  iionesty.  Don't  be  notional,  as  some  of  our 
countrymen  are  often  foolishly ;  and  don't  say 
anything  of  the  badness  of  the  pairoon's  horses,  for 
it  may  be  taken  amiss.  He  is  a  near  relation  of 
my  wife,  and  may  have  it  in  his  power  very  much 
to  serve  you." 

The  key  to  much  of  William  Johnson's  great 
success  in  life  is  that  he  kept  on  good  terms  with 
everybody,  was  not  notional,  and  instead  of  fol- 
lowing the  grasping  methods  of  most  Indian  tra- 
ders, he  followed  a  much  UKjre  far-sighted  policy, 
dealing  truthfully  and  fairly  with  his  Iroquois 
customers. 

In  a  few  years  the  young  man  became  the  owner 
of  large  estates  in  the  wild  land  of  New  York,  had 
built  him  a  mansion,  handsome  and  elegant  for  his 
day,  known  as  Mount  Johnson,  and  held  office  afs 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  lie  had  super- 
vision   not  only  over  all  the   Indians  of  the  Six 


i 


1 1 


ill 


132 


BRANT   AND   RED   JACKET. 


Nations,  but  also  over  many  more  southern  and 
western  tribes.  He  attended  numerous. councils, 
in  which  he  always  exerted  a  great  deal  of  in- 
fluence over  the  Indians.  He  flattered  the  savages 
by  conforming  to  their  customs.  He  danced  in 
their  wild  dances,  plr  J  their  games,  and  joined 
them  in  all  their  sports,  kic  'vus  formally  adopted 
into  the  Mohawk  nation,  given  an  Indian  name, 
and  made  a  war-chief,  il^  dcniu-d  the  Indian 
costume,  painted  himself,  dressed  his  head  with 
the  customary  feathers,  and  marched  with  all  dig- 
nity and  gravity  into  Albany  at  the  head  of  his 
adopted  people.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
a  German  girl  for  whom,  according  to  tradition, 
he  had  paid  five  pounds  to  the  captain  oi  the 
emigrant  vessel  in  which  she  had  come  over,  and 
whom  he  had  only  married  on  her  death-bed  that 
her  children  might  be  legitimate,  he  married 
in  Indian  fashion  Molly  Brant.  This  alliance  with 
a  Mohawk  wife  greatly  pleased  her  people  and 
strengthened  Johnson's  influence  over  them.  His 
home  was  always  hospitably  open  to  the  coming 
and  going  of  crowds  of  Indians.  He  lived  a 
curious  life,  lord  over  an  immense  estate,  a  general 
in  the  king's  army,  an  Enghsh  baronet,  and  yet  the 
friend  and  companion  of  hordes  of  squalid  Indians. 
There  is  a  tradition  with  regard  tu  the  way  in 


t 


BRANT  S    PATRON. 


^33 


which  Johnson  acquired  a  large  tract  of  land, 
known  as  the  "Royal  Grant,"  and  which  illustrates 
his  management  of  Indians.  While  the  famous 
Mohawk  chief  known  as  King  Hendrick  was 
once  lounging  around  Johnson's  mansion,  in  the 
free  and  easy  way  of  an  Indian,  Johnson  re- 
ceived two  or  three  very  handsome  suits  of  mili- 
tary clothes.  The  old  chief,  with  the  Indian  love 
for  personal  adornment,  looked  with  covetous 
eyes  upon  the  rich  costumes.  He  soon  after  came 
again  to  the  mansion  and  said  to  Johnson,  "  I 
dream."  , 

"  Well,  what  did  you  dream  ?"  said  Johnson. 

"  [  dream  you  give  me  one  suit  of  clothes,"  was 
the  answer. 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  must  have  it,"  said  John- 
son, and  he  gave  Hendrick  the  suit.  Perhaps  it 
would  not  have  done  to  have  allowed  such  dream- 
ing to  become  customary  among  the  Indians ;  at 
any  rate,  next  time  Colonel  Johnson  met  King 
Hendrick,  he  said,  ''  I  dreamed  last  night." 

''What  you  dream?"  asked  Hendrick. 

"  I  dreamed  you  gave  me  a  tract  of  land,"  said 
Johnson,  describing  a  piece  of  land  about 
twelve  miles  square. 

"  I  suppose  you  must  have  it,"  said  Hendrick, 
"  but  you  must  not  dream  again." 


134 


I5UANT   AND    RKI)   JACKET. 


it 

ill  -s-' 


The  j^rcat  Mohawk  war- chief  Brant  was 
brother  to  "■  Miss  Molly,"  and  her  inlUiential  posi- 
tion as  Indian  wife  of  Sir  William  Johnson  had 
much  to  d(^with  shaping  the  career  of  her  brother. 
There  are  several  conflicting  accounts  of  the 
parentage  of  Brant.  All  agree  that  he  was  born 
on  the  Ohio  River.  It  was  quite  common  for  the 
Iroquois  to  go  on  hunting  expeditions  into  the 
parts  of  the  western  country  over  which  tliey 
claimed  supremacy.  So  it  came  about  that  Brant 
was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  According  to 
one  story,  Molly  was  Brant's  twin  sister ;  but  this 
could  not  have  been  true,  for,  according  to  the 
generally  accepted  date  of  his  birth,  Brant  was 
much  younger  than  Molly.  Mis  father's  name  was 
Tehowaghwengaraghkwin ;  his  own  name  was 
Thayendanegea ;  and  doubtless  Molly  had  her  long 
Indian  name  also,  though  it  is  not  now  remem- 
bered. According  to  the  traditi(3n  preserved  in 
the  family  of  Brant,  his  father  died  when  he  w^as 
very  young,  and  his  mother  married  an  Indian 
who  went  by  the  name  of  Brant  among  the  Eng- 
lish. Thus  Thayendanegea  was  known  among  the 
w^hites  as  Joseph  Brant,  very  naturally  being 
called  by  the  surname  of  his  step-father,  who  was 
perhaps  the  influential  chief  mentioned  in  Sir 
William  Johnson's  diary  as  "  old  Nickus  Brant." 


BRANT  S   PATRON. 


135 


Some  writers  take  a  j^reat  deal  of  pains  to  try 
to  })r()ve  that  this  or  that  great  Indian  was  of 
"  noble  blood."  Nothin<^  is  more  foolish.  There 
was  no  aristocracy  among  the  Indians.  The  son 
of  some  influential  warrior-chief  may  perhaps  be 
the  more  likely  to  inherit  the  highest  Indian  quali- 
ties, but  neither  elected  war-chief  nor  hereditary 
sachem  lived  in  any  more  elegant  bark  house  or 
had  any  better  corn  and  venison  than  his  compan- 
ions, who  could  not  be  called  his  subjects  in  any 
sense  of  the  term.  In  fact,  a  sachem  or  chief  was 
frequently  among  the  poorest  of  his  people,  giving 
away  what  he  had  in  order  to  retain  his  influence 
and  show  his  disinterestedness. 

Brant,  though  there  is  no  evidence  that  his 
father  was  a  chief,  as  some  have  tried  to  prove, 
was  still  pretty  certainly  a  grandson  of  one  of  five 
representative  sachems  who  visited  England 
during  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.  They  were 
called  the  "  Indian  kings,"  and  were  received  with 
the  greatest  curiosity.  Addison,  in  The  Spectator, 
says  that  he  ''often  mixed  with  the  rabble"  to 
follow  these  strange  monarchs  a  whole  day  at  a 
time.  He  made  some  imaginary  notes  of  their 
stay,  and  the  impression  the  strange  sights  of 
London  made  upon  the  savages.  He  makes  one 
of    the    "kings"   say,   in   speaking  of     St.  Paul's 


136 


in<ANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


Church,  that  it  seems'  to  have  been  dcsij^ncd  for  a 
temple,  and  that  these  pe()[)le  have  some  traditions 
of  a  religion  having  existed  among  them,  but  that 
he  could  not  observe  anything  like  worship  when 
he  went  into  one  of  these  holy  houses,  though  in- 
deed there  was  a  man  in  black  who  seemed  to  say 
something  with  a  great  deal  of  vehemence,  but  the 
rest  of  the  people,  instead  of  paying  worship  to  the 
deity  of  the  place,  were  bowing  and  courtesying  to 
one  another,  and  quite  a  number  of  them  were  fast 
asleep.  He  also  supposed  the  chiefs  to  remark 
that  the  English  people's  dress  was  "very  barbar- 
ous," especially  as  they  bound  themselves  so 
tightly  around  the  middle  of  their  bodies. 


A 


CHAPTER    XV. 


AN   INDIAN  WAR-COUNCIL. 

Brant  was  but  thirteen  years  old  at  the  bcj^in. 
nirig  of  that  war  between  the  French  and  Enghsh 
colonies  which  resulted  in  the  conquest  of  Canada. 
F'our  expeditions  were  undertaken  in  1755  on  the 
part  of  the  English,  one  to  secure  the  boundary 
line  as  the  English  desired  it  in  Nova  Scotia, 
another  to  conquer  the  Ohio  Valley  from  the 
French,  still  another  to  take  the  French  Fort 
Niagara,  and  the  last  to  reduce  Crown  Point  on 
Lake  Champlain.  The  command  of  this  last  ex- 
pedition was  to  be  given  to  Colonel  Johnson  on 
account  of  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the  Indians 
of  the  Six  Nations,  who  were  to  be  used  as  allies. 
Johnson  had  some  time  before  this  resigned  the 
superintendency  of  the  Indians  on  account  of 
troublesome  jealousies,  but  he  had  still  continued 
to  use  his  great  influence  over  them  for  good. 
The  Iroquois  were,  however,  greatly  dissatisfied 
that  their  favorite  Warraghiyagey,  as  they  called 
Johnson,  was  not  allowed  to  manage  their  affairs. 


livli 


1, 

*'f  1 


I3S 


nUANT   AND   RFD   JACKET. 


Ajj^nin  and  acfnin  they  requested  that  he  iiiij^ht  be 
reinstated  in  his  former  position.  I'^inally  tlie 
Mohawk  chief  Little  Abraham  rose  m  council,  and 
said  that  for  three  years  the  Indians  had  desired 
that  Johnson  nii<;lit  aj^ain  have  charge  of  the  man- 
aj^ement  of  their  affairs;  that  the  Goveinor  of  New 
York  had  i)r()mised  to  tell  the  kini;  of  their  desire, 
and  that  they  had  heard  nothinj^  more  of  it.  lie 
now  laid  a  belt  of  wampum  before  the  En^-lish,  re- 
peating the  request ;  "  For,"  said  Little  Abraham, 
"  wc  all  lived  happy  while  we  were  under  his 
management,  for  we  love  him  and  he  us,  and  he 
has  always  been  our  good  and  trusty  friend."  Just 
as  he  was  taking  his  seat  the  cliief  said  sarcastically : 
**  Brethren,  I  forgot  something.  We  think  our 
request  about  Colonel  Johnson,  which  Governor 
Clinton  promised  to  convey  to  the  king  our 
father,  is  drowned  in  the  sea." 

When  the  French  war  broke  out  Johnson  was 
again  made  Superintendent.  He  immediately  sent 
wampum  belts  to  all  the  fortified  towns,  or  castles 
as  they  are  frequently  call  1,  of  the  Six  Nations. 
The  belts  were  accompanied  by  a  message  calling 
the  Indians  to  a  council  with  Warraghiyagey  at 
Mount  Johnson.  The  Iroquois  were  delighted 
when  they  heard  that  Johnson  again  had  charge. 
More  than  eleven  hundred  of  them  crowded  to 


h 


AN    INDIAN    WAR    (« )II  N(  I  [,. 


KVJ 


be 


his  house.  Johnson  had  not.  expected  so  heart  y 
a  response  to  his  invitation,  and  he  had  dinieulty 
in  pi()vidin<;"  for  so  hir^e  a  company.  Sonic  of  iUj 
Indians  who  came  t(»  llie  conncil  were  disaffected 
and  had  hstened  to  tlie  insinuations  of  the  l''renc!i 
airents  who  were  always  busy  anionic  them.  In 
his  openinj^  speech  Johnson  hi^uratively  removed 
the  embers  from  the  previous  council-fire  at. 
Albany,  with  which  he  rekindled  "the  fire  of 
council  and  friendship"  at  Blount  John' on  ;  "and 
this  tire,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  make  of  sucii  wood  as 
will  ^ive  the  clearest  light  and  greatest  warmth, 
and  I  hope  it  will  prove  comfortable  and  useful  to 
all  such  as  will  come  and  light  their  pipes  at  it, 
and  dazzle  and  scorch  all  th(jse  wdi(j  are  (jr  luay  be 
enemies  to  it." 

After  several  days  of  preliminary  talking,  for 
the  Indians  are  very  slow  in  their  deliberation  on 
such  occasions,  Johnson  delivered  his  war-speech 
to  the  Iroquois,  in  which  he  moved  them  after  the 
manner  of  one  of  their  own  orators.  The  great 
assemblage  had  been  called  together  by  the  firing 
of  two  cannon.  On  the  table  behjrc  Johnson  lay 
four  great  volumes  of  Indian  records.  "  These," 
said  he,  "  are  the  records  of  the  many  solemn 
treaties  which  have  passed  between  your  fore- 
fathers  and   your  brothers,   the   English.      They 


I  H 


t 


i  !:» 


1 1 


140 


r.RANT  AND    RED   JACKET. 


I  -i: 
v 


testify  that  upon  our  first  acquaintance  we  shook 
hands,  and,  finding  we  should  be  useful  to  one  an- 
other, entered  into  a  covenant  of  brotherly  love 
and  mutual  friendship."  He  then  asked  every 
Iroquois  present  to  put  his  hand  on  his  heart  and 
answer  which  had  always  been  the  friends  of  the 
Five  Nations,  the  English  or  the  French.  "  If  you 
can  be  one  moment  in  doubt,"  said  Johnson,  "  I 
must  tell  you  yOu  will  not  act  like  those  brave 
and  honest  men  whom  you  call  your  forefathers, 
but  like  Frenchmen  in  the  shape  of  the  Five 
Nations."  He  appealed  to  them  to  stand  by  their 
brothers,  the  English,  and  not  to  break  that  cove^ 
nant  chain  by  which,  in  Indian  figure  of  speech, 
the  Five  Nations  were  bound  to  their  ancient 
friends.  "  If  you  desire  to  treat  me  as  a  brother," 
said  Johnson,  **  go  with  me.  My  war-kettle  is  on 
the  fire,  my  canoe  is  ready  to  put  in  the  water,  my 
gun  is  loaded,  my  sword  by  my  side,  and  my  axe 
is  sharpened."  By  such  appeals  Colonel  Johnson 
had  wrought  his  audience  into  a  frenzy  of  enthusi- 
asm. When  he  threw  down  the  war-belt  it  was 
eagerly  picked  up  by  the  Indians,  who  thereupon 
began  the  war  -  dance.  At  Colonel  Johnson's 
order,  a  great  tub  of  punch  was  now  brought  into 
the  midst  of  the  council,  and  the  Indians  drank 
to    the    health    of  the     king.      Doubtless   Brant 


i.. 


AN   INDIAN   WAR   COUNCIL. 


141 


was  among  them,  his  boyish  ambition  to  be  a 
great  warrior  fired  by  the  Speeches  of  Colonel 
Johnson,  who  had  already  taken  notice  of  the 
promising  boy. 


* 

V*. 


I  ;ii 


I         i 


II 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

brant's  first  battle. 

King  Hendrick,  the  Mohawk  chief,  led  the 
Indian  force  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
braves  in  this  expedition  against  Crown  Point  in 
1755.  Among  these  warriors  was  Brant,  a  boy 
of  thirteen,  and  two  of  his  brothers,  doubtless 
older  than  himself.  Johnson's  forces  consisted 
chiefly  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  militia. 
There  was  one  New  York  regiment,  and  five  hun- 
dred mountaineers  were  on  their  way  from  New 
Hampshire.  They  had  been  ordered  by  the  gov- 
ernor of  that  State  to  build  a  fort  on  the  Connecti- 
cut River,  which  he  suppos>ed  to  be  on  the  route 
to  Crown  Point.  This  order  was  countermanded, 
and  after  a  toilsome  march  through  the  wilderness 
to  Albany,  the  New  Englanders  doubtless  realized 
that  Crown  Point  was  farther  distant  than  they 
had  supposed.  Here  the  army  was  organized. 
Part  of  the  troops  were  sent  ahead  to  build  Fort 
Edward  on  the  upper  Hudson,  and  Johnson 
marched   to   the  head  of  the  lake  which  Father 


brant's  first  battle. 


H3 


Toirucs  had  discovered,  and  which  still  bore  the 
name  of  St.  Sacrement,  "  Never  was  house  or  fort 
erected  here  before,"  said  he.  The  first  thing  that 
Johnson  did  was  to  name  tlie  beautiful  sheet  of 
water  Lake  George,  in  honor  of  his  king,  and  in 
defiance  of  the  French.  The  water  route  from  the 
St.  Lawrence,  up  the  river  Richelieu,  through 
Lake  Cham  plain  to  Ticonderoga,  thence  through 
Lake  George  to  t^^c  head  of  the  lake,  and  from 
there  by  a  carry  of  a  few  miles  to  the  Hudson, 
had  been,  perhaps  for  centuries,  the  great  war-})ath 
of  the  savage  nations,  and  was  destined  still  to  be 
the  war-patli  of  the  white  people.  It  was  of  the 
first  importance  to  secure  this  road  by  which  the 
French  and  their  Indians  might  any  day  descend 
upon  the  defenceless  settlements  of  New  York. 

A  great  clearing  was  made  for  a  camp,  and  on 
Sunday  white  men  and  Indians  assembled  under 
the  trees  to  listen  to  a  sermon.  While  General 
Johnson  was  planning  to  build  a  fort  at  the  head 
of  the  lake  and  another  at  Ticonderoga,  before  he 
struck  a  blow  at  Crown  Point,  the  French  took  the 
aggressive.  Baron  Dieskau,  whose  motto  was 
"  Boldness  wins,"  had  taken  two  hundred  regu- 
lars, seven  hundred  Canadians,  and  six  hundred 
Indians,  and  pushed  to  the  head  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  where  he  landed,  designing  to  march  from 


144 


BRANT  AND    RED   JACKET, 


there  to  Fort  Edward,  take  that  fort,  and,  having 
cut  off  Johnson's  retreat,  attack  that  general's 
forces.  This  was  certainly  a  very  bold  plan. 
The  baron's  guides,  however,  led  him  astray,  and 
he  was  within  a  few  miles  of  Lake  George  before 
the  mistake  was  discovered.  A  council  of  war 
was  called.  The  Indians  always  insist  on  acting 
according  to  their  own  ideas  in  spite  of  the  com- 
manding officer.  They  were  unwilling  to  attack 
the  fort  on  account  of  their  dread  of  artillery,  but 
understanding  the  camp  at  the  lake  to  be  without 
cannons,  they  were  ready  to  fall  upon  that.  The 
baron  encamped  for  the  night  on  Long  Pond, 
about  four  miles  from  Johnson's  forces. 

Meantime  a  council  of  war  was  held  at  the 
camp  on  the  lake  shore.  It  was  known  that  the 
French  marching  upon  Fort  Edward  were  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  English,  and  it  was  agreed  by 
the  officers  that  a  detachment  of  a  thousand  should 
be  sent  out  to  meet  the  enemy.  Chief  Hendrick, 
however,  opposed  the  details  of  the  plan. 

"  If,"  said  the  wise  old  man,  "  they  are  to  fight, 
they  are  too  few ;  if  they  are  to  be  killed,  they 
are  too  many."  | 

But  the  chief  was  overruled.  It  was  next  pro- 
posed to  send  out  the  detachment  in  three  divi- 
sions. 


,-•5' I 


fi\ 


BRANT  S   FIRST    IJATTLK. 


145 


*'  Put  these  together,"  said  Hendrick,  holding 
\ip  three  sticks,  "and  you  cannot  break  them;  take 
thcrii  one  by  one  and  you  will  do  it  easily,"  and 
he  snapped  them  in  pieces. 

lie  nevertheless  bravely  led  his  Indians  out  in 
tlic  detachment  commanded  by  Colonel  Ephraim 
Williams,  a  brave  young  man  who  had  made  his 
will  when  he  passed  through  Albany,  leaving  his 
property  to  found  a  school,  greatly  needed  in  that 
day,  and  which  afterwards  became  Williams  Col- 
lege. Perfectly  unsuspicious  of  the  neighborhood 
of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Williams  marched  his 
column  right  into  the  arms  of  a  crescent-shaped 
ambuscade  formed  at  a  rocky  defile  by  Baron 
Dieskau.  Ahead  of  the  line  rode  the  wdiite-haircd 
Hendrick,  the  only  man  on  horseback.  The  baron 
had  ordered  his  men  not  to  fire  until  the  Enpflish 
were  all  within  their  clutches,  but  a  gun  went  off, 
and  in  an  instant  the  Indian  yells  rose  on  all  sides, 
and  volley  after  volley  was  poured  in  upon  the 
English.  Hendrick  fell  dead  at  the  first  fire. 
Colonel  Williams  jumped  upon  a  rock  to  direct 
the  movements  of  his  troops.  He  was  soon  killed 
with  a  shot  in  the  head.  Had  hh  troops  been 
regulars  they  would  have  been  cut  to  pieces,  but 
being  backwoodsmen  they  retreated  slowly 
through    the   woods,  fighting   from  behind   trees. 


i>  J 


[  i 


146 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


Colonel  Whiting,  upon  whom  the  command  de- 
volved, rallied  some  of  his  men  behind  a  gloomy 
,  little  pond  covered  with  lily-pads,  which  has  ever 
since  been  called  Bloody  Pond.  There  is  a  local 
tradition  that  it  was  filled  with  Ihe  bodies  of  the 
slain,  which  is  hardly  warranted  by  the  facts  of  his- 
tory. Here  the  little  band  fought,  and  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  was  checked  until  the  arrival  of  a 
detachment  sent  out  by  General  Johnson  to  cover 
the  retreat. 

Baron  Dieskau,  according  to  his  favorite  motto, 
desired  to  follow  up  the  retreating  soldiers  into 
their  very  camp,  and  make  his  attack  with  the  ad- 
vantage which  the  confusion  of  the  moment  would 
give.  But  as  he  neared  the  edge  of  the  woods  the 
Indians  discovered  that  here,  too,  was  artillery. 
They  refused  to  move  farther,  and  the  courage  of 
the  Canadians  also  wavered  ;  for  both  Indians  and 
Canadians,  well  educated  in  their  own  kind  of 
warfare,  were  unaccustomed  to  attacking  a  fore-' 
warned  enemy  face  to  face.  Their  motto  was 
"  Stratagem  wins."  Much  to  the  baron's  disgust, 
they  refused  to  join  the  assault,  but,  dispersing 
through  the  woods,  fired  upon  the  English  army 
from  behind  trees,  leaving  the  regulars  to  take  the 
brunt  of  the  battle. 

Meanwhile  there  was  time  for  the  English  to 


f ' 


brant's  first  rattle. 


147 


nand  dc- 
gloomy 
has  ever 
s  a  local 
Js  of  the 
:ts  of  his- 
J  pursuit 
val  of  a 
to  cover 

c  motto, 
ers  into 

the  ad- 
it would 
)ods  the 
irtillery. 
irage  of 
ans  and 
kind   of 

a  fore-* 
tto  was 
[iisgust, 
persing 
h  army 
ake  the 

lish  to 


add  something  to  the  mere  barricade  behind  which 
they  lay  down  to  aim  at  ^hc  enemy.  Rough 
backwoodsmen  that  they  were,  it  was  strange  to 
them  to  see  first  through  the  trees  the  glittering 
bayonets — '*  like  a  row  of  icicles  on  a  January 
morning,"  said  one  of  them — and  then  the  white 
uniforms  of  the  Frenchmen.  It  was  a  discour- 
aging moment  for  the  English  colonists ;  they  an- 
swered rather  faintly  the  shout  of  the  enemy. 
Upon  three  sides  a  fire  was  poured  upon  them 
from  a  distance,  but  the  Frenchmen  attempted  no 
assault.  Soon  Johnson's  men  took  heart  again. 
They  were  good  marksmen,  and  with  their 
fowling-pieces  they  greatly  thinned  the  ranks  of 
the  regulars.  Their  artillery  was  not  much  to  be 
dreaded,  however.  With  the  two  cannons  which 
were  in  position  they  fired  into  the  woods  where 
the  Indians  and  Canadians  were  fighting  from 
behind  trees.  The  cannons  were  ill  managed  and 
aimed  entirely  too  high,  but  the  crashing  of  the 
branches  overhead  was  enough  to  terrify  the 
savages.  Deserted  by  Indian  and  Canadian  forces, 
brave  Baron  Dieskau  still  stood  his  ground.  He 
was  dangerously  wounded,  but  he  supported  him- 
self against  a  stump  and  directed  his  men.  Two 
Canadians  came  up  to  carry  him  off.  One  was 
shot  down  at  his  side,  and  he  ordered  the  other 


148 


BRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


one  away.  The  battle  was  continued  for  nearly 
five  hours,  and  the  French  were  badly  cut  to 
pieces.  They  began  to  waver,  and  the  EngHsh 
with  triumphant  shouts  sprang  over  their  barri- 
cade and  rushed  upon  them,  striking  them  down 
with  the  butts  of  their  guns,  and  pursuing  them 
through  the  woods.  The  English  forces  were  re- 
called, however,  from  the  pursuit.  But  the  poor 
Frenchmen  fell  into  an  ambuscade  at  the  very  spot 
where  in  the  morning  they  had  entrapped  the 
English.  It  was  dusk  when  they  reached  the  de- 
file, and  here  they  were  attacked  by  a  scouting 
party  of  New  York  and  New  Hampshire 
rangers,  and  completely  routed.  Baron  Dieskau 
himself  was  captured,  still  leaning  against 
the  stump.  General  Johnson  had  received 
a  wound  early  in  the  day,  in  consquence 
of  which  he  had  retired  from  the  field, 
Many  3''ears  after,  when  his  coffin  was  taken  up, 
the  bullet  which  he  received  in  this  battle  was 
found  among  his  bones. 

As  for  young  Brant,  he  was  probably  with 
King  Hendrick  in  the  first  battle  of  the  day.  He 
confessed  afterwards  that  he  was  seized  with 
trembling  at  the  first  firing,  and  was  obliged  to 
take  hold  of  a  small  sapling,  but  he  soon  recovered 
his  courage  and  fought  bravely  during  the  rest 


X 


BRANT'S    FIRST   BATTLE. 


149 


the  clay,  seeking  to  win  the  reputation  of  a  brave 
man,  so  highly  prized  by  every  ambitious  Indian. 
This  was  the  year  of  Braddock's  disastrous  de- 
feat. The  force  sent  against  Niagara  had  failed 
to  do  anything,  and  the  expedition  in  Nova  Scotia 
had  come  off  successful,  but  with  little  honor.  In 
the  battle  at  Lake  George  the  rustic  American 
colonists  first  opposed  the  trained  soldiers  of 
Europe.  General  Johnson  did  not  accomplish  the 
main  purpose  of  the  expedition,  but  the  victory 
over  French  arms  was  cheerin"-  after  the  failures 
of  the  year.  Johnson  was  doubtless  better  in  In- 
dian diplomacy  than  in  generalship,  but  he  was 
rewarded  for  this  success  with  a  baronetcy  and 
five  thousand  pounds. 


I!  il 


l 


'■^  I 


I 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE   SIX  NATIONS   IN   BRANT'S   BOYHOOD. 

TiiE'  battle  of  Lake  George  was  the  only 
success  which  EngHsh  arms  were  to  have  over 
those  of  France  in  this  part  of  the  war. 
Meantime  the  braves  of  the  Six  Nations  looked 
on  anxiously  at  the  struggle  between  the  rival 
European  powers.  Indians  appreciate  prompt- 
ness, courage,  and,  above  all  things,  success.  But 
they  were  destined  to  be  disappointed  in  their 
English  allies.  The  English  generals  in  charge  of 
the  campaign  for  1756  were  weak  and  cowardly. 
While  General  Abcrcrombie  was  jealously  disput- 
ing the  rights  and  the  courage  of  the  colonial 
militia,  and  quartering  his  regular  troups  in  mid- 
summer upon  the  disgusted  inhabitants  of 
Albany,  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm  was  preparing 
to  take  Fort  Oswego,  an  important  frontier  post. 
Colonel  Bradstreet  with  three  hundred  men,  im- 
patient of  the  delay,  had  thrown  provisions  and 
stores  into  the  threatened  fort.  On  his  return 
Bradstreet  heard  that  the  enemy  designed  to  en- 


THE  SIX   NATIONS   IN   BRANTS   BOYHOOD.    151 


trap  him,  and  took  every  precaution  to  keep  his 
men  together.  As  they  were  passing  up  the 
Oswego  in  boats  they  were  suddenly  attacked  by 
a  force  of  nine  hundred  French  and  Indians.  The 
brave  colonel,  with  but  twelve  men,  landed  on  an  * 
island.  Here  he  forced  party  after  party  of  the 
enemy  to  retreat  from  the  attack  while  his  boat- 
men were  landing.  Seeing  some  four  hundred  of 
the  French  forces  crossing  a  ford  with  the  inten- 
tion of  surrounding  him,  Colonel  Bradstreet,  leav- 
ing some  of  his  men  to  guard  the  boats,  marched 
directly  up  to  the  enemy  where  they  had  ambushed 
in  a  swamp,  dislodged  and  routed  them.  He  now 
hurried  to  Albany  to  represent  to  the  general  the 
necessity  for  reinforcing  the  garrison  at  Oswego. 
Sir  William  Johnson  also  warned  Abercrombie 
that  he  could  no  longer  restrain  the  Six  Nations  if 
the  English  soldiers  remained  in  idleness  and  Fort 
Oswego  were  taken.  Still  the  general  waited  for 
the  Viceroy  Loudoun,  and  Loudoun  waited  for 
nobody  knows  what. 

Montcalm  laid  siege  to  Fort  Oswego  in  August. 
On  a  commanding  hill  upon  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river  stood  Fort  Ontario.  Montcalm  first  at- 
tacked this.  The  garrison,  after  using  up  their  am- 
munition, spiked  their  cannons  and  retired  to  the 
main  fort.     Heedless  of  a  report  that  the  deserted 


!i 


til: 


152 


IlKANT   AND    Kill)    lACKKT. 


i 


fori  was  mined,  the  Freiicli  rushed  to  the  spot, 
vvliere  tliey  poured  a  hot  tne  upon  tlie  garrison  of 
Fort  Oswego.  The  commandinu^  officer  was 
killed  with  a  cannon-ball.  Montcalm  soon  made 
a  breach  in  the  walls,  and  was  ])rei)arinii;'  to  storm 
the  fort  when  the  discouraj^i^ed  ij^arrison  of  about 
sixteen  hundred  men  surrendered.  The  Indian 
allies  of  the  French  had  lost  some  of  their  braves. 
They  craved  revenge.  As  ever  in  such  cases, 
they  were  ready  to  fall  upon  the  prisoners.  In- 
stantly Montcalm  ordered  out  a  file  of  soldiers  to 
defend  the  helpless  garrison.  Six  Indians  were 
shot  down  before  they  learned  the  mettle  of  their 
commander.  The  victorious  general  planted  a 
cross  and  the  arms  of  France  within  the  fort. 
This  fort  had  been  an  eyesore  to  the  Indians  of 
the  Six  Nations,  who  dreaded  more  and  mcjre  the 
encroachments  of  white  men.  Montcalm  most 
wisely  destroyed  it,  to  the  delight  of  the  Iroquois. 
Meantime  General  Webb,  on  his  way  to  Fort 
Oswego,  hearing  the  news,  was  seized  With  panic, 
and,  after  hastily  building  a  barricade  in  the 
road  of  the  enemy,  fled  to  Albany,  while  the 
enemy  were  barricading  themselves  for  fear  of 
him.  The  Earl  of  Loudoun  himself  did  not  know 
what  the  French  might  do  "  flushed  with  sue. 
cess."     He  quartered   his  troops  for  the  winter 


iii^.i.i-'i|i>;ij-'*r]igHi'*.'*'i*'"mwiwjF»wuu-i'L 


TIIK    SIX    NATIONS    IN    DKANT's    lU)YII(K)I).    1 53 


ab(nit 
ndian 
nivcs. 
cases, 
In. 
rs  to 
vvcrc 
their 
^cl  a 
fort. 
s  of 

the 
lost 
ois. 

ort 
lie, 
the 
the 

of 

)W 

er 


upon  Ihc  New  Yorkers,  in  spite  of  Iheir  ol)j(H> 
tions. 

The  wSix  Nations  no  ion<^c'r  wavered.  Tliey  sent 
deputations  to  Canada,  and  made  peace  witii  tlie 
f^overnor.  Tiiere  was  now  no  l)arrier  of  friendly 
Indians  between  the  lui^lisli  settienunts  and  the 
sava<;e  allies  of  the  French.  Numerous  murders 
occurred  on  the  frontier.  In  such  warfare  the 
defenceless  settlements  must  suffer  for  the  cow- 
ardice or  mismana<^ement  of  the  leaders. 

The  Delaware  Indians  had  lonj^-  Ijeen  women 
under  the  iron  hand  of  the  Iroquois.  Tiiis  is  illus- 
trated in  the  story  of  the  famous '*  walking  pur- 
chase" in  Pennsylvania.  One  of  those  fraudulent 
transactions  by  which  land  was  taken  from  the 
Indians, and  which  frequently  did  much  harm,  was 
the  raking  up  in  1737  of  an  old  and  forgotten  In- 
dian deed  to  land  defined  by  the  distance  a  man 
could  walk  in  a  day.  Men  were  trained  for  the 
^'  .ik,  a  smooth  road  was   laid  for  them,  and  an 

mense  tract  of  land  was  inclosed  by  the  walk. 
,  lie  Delaware  Indians  were  summoned  to  move 
from  their  homes  and  fields  of  half-grown  grain. 
They  re^  sed.  The  proprietors  were  at  first  at  a 
loss  v/hr  to  do,  but  they  thought  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions, hey  sent  for  the  Iroquois.  Some  of  tlu  ir 
chiefs       uie    down    to  Philadelphia,   where  they 


I 


,! 


154 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


were  well  bribed  and  given  a  false  account  ol 
the  transaction.  Proud  doubtless  of  their  power, 
they  soon  settled  the  matter. 

"  You  ought  to  be  taken  by  the  hair  of  tl>e 
head  and  shaken  soundly  till  you  recover  your 
senses,"  said  they  to  the  poor  Delawares.  "  How 
came  you  to  take  upon  you  to  sell  land  at  all? 
We  conquered  you.  We  made  women  of  you  ; 
you  know  you  are  women,  and  can  no  more  sell 
land  than  women.  This  land  you  claim  is  gone 
down  your  throats ;  you  have  been  furnished  with 
clothes,  meat  and  drink  by  the  goods  paid  you  for 
it,  and  now  you  want  it  again,  like  children  as  you 
are.  What  makes  you  sell  land  in  the  dark  ?  Did 
you  ever  tell  us  you  had  sold  this  land?  Did  wc 
ever  receive  any  part,  even  the  value  of  a  pipe- 
shank,  from  you  for  it.  Wc  charge  you  to  re- 
move instantly ;  we  don't  give  you  the 
liberty  to  think  about  it  ?  You  are  women.  Take 
the  advice  of  a  wise  man  and  remove  immediately. 
You  may  return  to  the  other  side  of  the  Delaware, 
where  you  came  from;  but  we  do  net  know 
whether,  considering  how  you  have  demeaned 
yourselves,  you  will  be  permitted  to  live  there ;  or 
wnether  you  have  not  swallowed  that  land  down 
your  throats  as  well  as  the  land  on  t\\\^  side.  We 
therefore  assign  you  two  places  to  go,  either  to 


f 


THE   SIX  NaIIONS   IN  BRANT'S   BOYHOOD.   I55 

Wyoming  01  Shamokiii.  We  shall  then  have  you 
more  under  our  eye,  and  shall  see  how  you  be- 
have. Don't  deliberate,  but  take  this  belt  of  wam- 
pum and  go  at  once."  The  Delawares  had  obeyed 
this  hard  order.  But  is  it  surprising  that  when  at 
last  they  threw  off  the  Iroquois  yoke  and  became 
men  and  w^arriors,  it  was  to  retaliate  on  the  fron- 
tier settlements  of  Pennsylvania  ? 

The  campaign  of  1757  was  no  more  calculated 
to  impress  the  Indians  with  awe  of  the  Enghsh 
than  that  of  the  previous  year.  Montcalm  with  a 
force  of  ten  thousand,  including  two  thousand  In- 
dians, laid  siege  to  Fort  William  Henry,  at  the 
head  of  Lake  George.  Monro,  the  commandant 
of  the  fort,  had  but  a  little  over  two  thousand  men. 
General  Webb  was  lying  at  Fort  Edward,  fourteen 
miles  away,  with  reinforcements,  but  in  abject 
terror  of  the  enemy.  Montcalm  summoned  Monro 
to  surrender,  but  was  answered  with  defiance.  He 
opened  his  artillery  with  telling  effect  upon  the 
English,  but  Monro  sent  express  after  express  to 
Webb  for  aid  and  bravely  held  out,  sure  that  he 
would  get  help  at  last.  The  cowardly  Webb, 
though  he  had  a  force  of  four  thousand  and  |)()wer 
to  call  upon  the  miiitia  of  tlic  neighborhood,  did 
not  move.  He  refused  to  let  General  Johnson  go 
to  the  rescue,  and  at  last  sent  an  express  with  ex- 


O.H  I* 

m 


if 


1^1 


'II 


li 
t 


M 


I 


i  1I 


156 


TYRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


ni^s^cratcd  accounts  of  the  French  forces,  and 
advising  Monro  to  surrender.  Montcahii  cap- 
tured the  messenger,  but  after  reading  the  message 
he  sent  it  in  to  Monro.  Still  the  brave  commander 
held  out  until  the  greater  part  of  his  guns  had 
burst  and  his  ammunition  gone.  When  he  sur- 
rendered, it  was  with  the  honors  of  war.  Mont- 
calm, fearful  of  the  temper  of  his  treacherous 
Indians,  refused  to  give  them  any  liquor,  and 
warned  the  English  not  to  do  so.  The  English, 
however,  disregarded  his  w^arning,  thinking  to 
propitiate  the  Indians.  In  the  morning,  when  the 
English  garrison  set  out  on  their  road  to  Fort 
Edward,  the  maddened  savages  were  there  with 
threatening  looks.  A  massacre  began,  and  the 
English  fled,  (lro})ping  their  baggage,  arms,  and 
clothes  upon  the  road.  The  massacre  was  greatly 
exaggerated  in  the  partisan  accounts  of  the  day, 
but  the  Indians  improved  what  time  they  had. 
The  instant  Montcalm  and  his  officers  heard  of  it 
they  rushed  to  the  rescue,  risking  their  own  lives 
to  save  those  of  their  prisoners.  They  begged 
and  threatened  the  savage  allies.  French  soldiers 
got  prisoners  into  their  tents  and  stood  guard  over 
them.  Those  who  had  not  escaped  or  been  toma- 
hawked were  re-clothed  and  sent  to  Fort  Edward 
in  .saietv.     Fort  Willium  llcnr\-  wa^;  razed  to  the 


THE    SIX    NATIONS    IN    BRANT's    IIOVIIOOT).    1 57 


ground  and  the  French  retreated,  leaving  Lake 
George  again  a  solitude. 

Loudoun  was  at  Hah  fax  with  ten  thousand  men, 
intending  to  take  Louisburg,  a  strongly  fortified 
town  of  Nova  Scotia,  the  walls  of  which  were 
thirty  feet  high,  and  which  was  surrounded  by  a 
ditch  eighty  feet  wide.  But  Loudoun  s})ent  his 
time  in  making  a  parade-ground  and  a  vegetable- 
garden.  Meantime  the  enemy  was  reinforced,  and, 
finding  that  the  French  had  one  mc^re  ship  tlian 
himself,  Loudoun  sailed  back  to  Ne*,/  York.  He 
next  talked  of  defending  the  continent  by  encamp- 
ing on  Long  Island. 

Meantime  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  saw  in 
the  cause  of  France  the  winning  side.  Wily 
French  agents  were  busy  among  them.  It  was 
whispered  in  their  ears  that  the  French  were 
fighting  merely  to  drive  the  Englishman  from  the 
land  of  which  the  Indian  was  so  jealous.  This 
was  confirmed  by  the  destruction  of  the  obnoxious 
forts  of  Oswego  and  William  Henrv.  Sir  William 
Johnson  had  his  hands  full  trying  to  influence  and 
restrain  the  Indians,  and  at  the  same  time  to  pre- 
vent Lord  Loudoun  from  making  open  war  on  the 
Six  Nations.  The  Indians  still  entertained  a 
friendly  feeling  toward  Sir  William.  The  Mo- 
hawks were  yet  under  his  influence,  and  doubtless 


i^^ 


if 

i    \  ! 


: 


158 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


the  boy  Brant  held  strongly  to  the  cause  of  his 
friend,  as  lie  always  in  after-life  took  sides  with 
the  Johnson  family. 

But  when  at  length  a  band  of  Canadians  and 
Indians  fell  upon  the  German  settlement  on  the 
Mohawk  and  massacred  the  inhabitants,  the  whole 
valley  of  the  JMohawk  was  thrown  into  conster- 
nation. The  Six  Nations  were  no  longer  a  barrier 
to  the  incursions  of  the  enemy. 


i 


i 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BRANT  AT   THE   BATTLE  OF   NIAGARA. 

With  the  coming  into  power  of  William  Pitt  in 
England,  a  wiser  management  caused  tLe  tide  to 
turn.  The  king  was  heartily  discouraged  with 
the  bad  conduct  of  the  war  in  America.  When 
Wolfe  was  appointed  some  one  represented  to  the 
king  that  he  was  a  young  madman.  "  If  he  is 
mad,  1  hope  he  will  bite  some  ui  my  generals," 
was  the  reply. 

The  campaign  of  1758  was  more  vigorous  than 
the  preceding  ones.  Louisburg,  in  Canada,  was 
captured  by  Amherst  and  Wolfe,  and  Fort  Du- 
quesne,  at  the  head  of  the  Ohio,  was  taken  and 
named  Pittsburg  in  hon(3r  of  William  Pitt,  to 
whom  this  year's  success  was  due. 

One  disaster  marred  the  general  success.  Lake 
George  had  been  covered  with  a  great  army  under 
Abercrombie  and  Lord  Howe,  on  their  way  to 
attack  Montcalm  at  Ticondcroga.  In  a  prelim- 
inary skirmish  the  brave  Lord  Howe  fell  before 
he  could  lead  his  troops  to  success.     The  hope  of 


lir 


t   i1 


(  i 


i6o 


15RANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


X 


the  expedition  had  been  in  Howe.  The  manage- 
ment of  the  attack  now  devolved  on  Abercrombie, 
who  was  easily  terrified  and  took  pains  to  keep 
safely  in  the  rear  during  battle.  Montcalm  worked 
bravely  for  his  almost  hopeless  cause.  With  his 
small  but  intrepid  force  he  met  the  storming  col- 
umns of  the  English,  who  on  their  part  also 
displayed  the  utmost  courage.  The  English  again 
and  again  attacked  the  walls.  Nineteen  hundred 
men  were  mowed  down  by  French  arms  and  ar- 
tillery, and  the  English  were  at  last  repulsed. 
Without  waiting  to  try  the  effect  of  his  artillery 
upon  the  fort,  Abercrombie  with  his  army  fled  in 
the  night,  and  did  not  rest  until  the  length  of  Lake 
George  lay  between  him  and  Montcalm. 

In  si)ite  of  this  defeat  the  English  success  seemed 
certain.  The  French  were  on  the  point  of  starv- 
ing ;  scanty  crops  had  been  raised  and  Canada  had 
been  drained  of  every  resource.  The  ever-fickle 
Indians  had  mostly  deserted  the  losing  cause. 
Montcalm  said  for  himself  and  his  troops,  "  We 
are  resolved  to  find  our  graves  under  the  ruins  of 
the  colony." 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  vacillating  Six  Nations. 
Some  of  the  Delaware  Indians  had  captured  a 
French  dispatch.  They  found  some  one  among 
them  who  could  read,  }>crhaps  an  Indian  or  half- 


fe,  -r 


I 


/ 


5- 

ha. 


I 


1.1 


m 

I 


li 


II'' 


f'    'f 


.;  r, 


^  < 

^  ■ 


i  V 


f 


nUANT   AT  THE    DATTLE   OF   NIAGARA. 


161 


breed  who  had  been  taught  by  the  Quakers.  Tliey 
crowded  around  with  eager  curiosity  wliile  the 
dispatch  was  spelled  out.  It  proposed  the  exter- 
mination of  the  Iroquois.  The  French  urged  the 
western  tribes  to  join  in  this,  as  the  Six  Nations 
claimed  their  territory.  The  Delawares  were 
much  astonished  at  so  bold  a  proposition,  for  they 
still  held  the  Iroquois  in  dread.  They  immediately 
.  sent  information  of  the  plot  to  the  Senecas.  Vari- 
ous friendly  councils  with  Sir  William  Johnson 
followed.  He  could  say  to  the  Indians  with  truth, 
"  I  told  you  so." 

In  1759  an  expedition  was  imdertaken  by  Eng- 
lish and  colonial  troops  under  General  Prideaux 
against  Fort  Niagara,  a  post  which  commanded 
the  fur  trade  of  the  west,  and  was  therefore  con- 
sidered very  important.  General  Prideaux  was 
joined  by  Sir  William  Johnson  with  nearly  a 
thousand  Indians.  Among  them  was  Brant,  now 
a  youth  of  seventeen.  Prideaux  was  killed  by  the 
accidental  explosion  of  a  coehorn,  and  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  Sir  William  Johnson.  He 
understood  the  general's  plans  thoroughly,  and 
carried  them  out  with  a  great  deal  of  energy. 
The  siege  was  pressed  with  great  eagerness. 
Each  day  batteries  were  brought  nearer  the  fort. 
Meanwhile    the   French  General    D'Aubrey   had 


1 62 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


gathered  from  the  garrisons  of  the  forts  of  Detroit, 
Venango,  La  Bouuf,  and  I'resque  Isle  some  twelve 
hundred  men  with  an  additional  body  of  Indians, 
and  was  on  his  way  to  relieve  Niagara,  without 
which  these  other  forts  would  be  useless.  Indian 
scouts  brought  news  of  D'Aubrey's  approach. 
Leaving  a  guard  in  the  trenches  to  prevent  co- 
operation from  the  fort,  Johnson  placed  his  main 
army  in  a  position  to  intercept  the  enemy  and 
support  the  guard.  The  French  army  advanced. 
The  Mohawks  tried  to  open  a  parley  with  the 
French  Indians,  but  failed.  The  war-whoop  was 
the  signal  for  battle.  The  British  regulars  charged 
the  French  in  front,  and  the  Iroquois  Indians  at- 
tacked their  flanks.  This  threw  the  French  into 
disorder,  and  when  the  English  again  charged  fu- 
riously the  French  were  forced  to  retreat.  They 
were  pursued  and  killed  in  great  numbers  by  the 
victorious  army. 

Sir  William  Johnson  sent  an  account  of  the 
battle  to  the  commandant  of  the  fort,  with  a  sum- 
mons to  surrender,  and  with  it  the  threat  so  fre- 
quently, in  border  warfare,  hung  over  the  heads 
of  a  garrison,  that  if  the  Indians  were  exaspe- 
rated by  further  resistance  they  could  not  be 
restrained  when  the  surrender  should  at  length  be 
made.     The  commander  with  his  six  hundred  men 


»S/1 


BRANT  AT  THE   BATTLE   OF  NIAGARA. 


163 


capitulated,  and  the  Indians  behaved  very  well, 
partly  perhaps  through  Johnson's  influence,  and 
partly  because  they  had  been  satiated  with  slaugh- 
ter in  the  pursuit  of  the  routed  army.  Brant  got 
his  second  experience  of  war  in  this  successful 
campaign. 

The  fall  of  Niagara  was  followed  by  the  de- 
sertion of  other  western  posts.  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point  were  abandoned  before  Amherst's 
great  army,  agam  descending  Lake  George.  Que- 
bec, defended  by  the  brave  Montcalm,  remained 
to  be  taken  by  the  brave  Wolfe  to  complete  the 
fall  of  the  French  power  in  America. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

brant's   Sc:il()()L   DAYS. 

Sir  Wilfjam  Johnson,  though  not  a  man  of 
very  exemplary  morals  himself,  had  taken  a  great 
deal  of  interest  in  the  improvement  of  his  Mo- 
hawk neiglibors.  He  had  helped  to  establish  mis- 
sitHiaries  and  build  churches  among  them.  He 
also  sent  some  Indian  boys  to  the  iNIoor  Charity 
School  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut.  This  school  was 
the  germ  fr(.)m  which  grew  Dartmouth  College. 
It  was  taught  by  Rev.  Eleazar  Wheelock,  the  first 
president  of  Dartmouth.  He  had  been  very  suc- 
cessful with  the  first  Indian  pupil  under  his  care. 
His  name  was  Samson  Occom,  and  he  became  a 
missionary  among  his  people,  visiting  England  in 
1766,  and  attracting  much  attention.  Among  the 
boys  whom  Jchnson  sent  to  school  was  Brant. 
This  was  probably  immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Niagara.  Possibly  Brant  had  received  some  of  the 
rudiments  of  education,  through  the  kindness  of 
Sir  William  Johnson,  before  he  went  to  the  Con- 
necticut school.     Certainly  he  was  then    already 


0! 


BRANT  S    SCIIOOr.   DAYS. 


165 


an  accomplished  warrior.  But  the  education  that 
even  a  white  b(  y  i^ot  in  the  frontier  settlements 
was  rude  enoM<;h.  The  first  school-master  in 
Cherry  Valley  used  to  do  his  farm-work  while  his 
scholars  followed  him  about,  reciting  their  lessons 
in  the  fresh  air. 

Brant  used  to  tell  with  amusement  one  story  of 
his  school  days.  Among  the  Indian  boys  who  ac- 
companied him  was  a  half-breed  named  Willii.m. 
Dr.  Wheelock's  son  one  day  ordered  this  boy  to 
saddle  his  horse.  ;..  . 

"  I  won't,"  said  William. 

*' Why  not?" 

"Because,"  said  the  Indian,  **  I  am  a  gentleman, 
and  it  isn't  a  gentleman's  place  to  do  such  things." 

"  Do  you  know  what  a  gentleman  is  ?"  young 
Wheelock  snceringly  asked. 

"  Yes,"  said  William  ;  "  a  gentleman  is  a  person 
who  keeps  race-horses  and  drinks  Madeira  wine ; 
and  that  is  what  neither  you  nor  your  father  do. 
So  saddle  the  horse  yourself." 

Sir  William  Johnson  was  probably  the  young 
Indian's  ideal  of  a  gentleman.  Brant  spent  several 
years  at  this  school.  According  to  one  account 
he  accomplished  nothmg  more  than  to  "read  but 
very  indifferently  in  the  New  Testament,  and  to 
write  but  very  little."  This,  however,  could  hardly 


lis 


!!■ 


1 66 


BRANT  AND   RED   JArRET. 


have  been  true,  since  he  was  somewhat  accom- 
plished, according  to  other  statements,  lie  cer- 
tainly could  write,  and  was  employed  as  a  secre- 
tary in  after-life.  In  Dr.  Wheelock's  letters  to  Sir 
William  Johnson  Joseph  Brant  is  frequently  well 
spoken  of,  as :  "  Joseph  and  the  rest  of  the  boys  arc 
well,  studious,  and  dilic^ent ;"  "  Joseph  and  the 
other  boys  behave  very  well ;"  "  Joseph  is  indeed 
an  excellent  youth,"  and  so  on. 

There  were  several  Indians  at  schooi  at  I  cban- 
on  at  this  time.  Two  Delaware  boys  had  entered 
the  school  before  Brant.  The  latter  was  at  one 
time  eno:ag-cd  by  Sir  William  Johnson  to  persuade 
good  Mohawk  boys  to  attend  the  school.  The  In- 
dian school-boys,  however,  were  always  restless; 
they  wc.uld  rather  hunt  than  study,  and  Brant  was 
like  the  rest  of  them.  Only  two  remained  to 
graduate.  After  he  left  the  school,  we  hear  of 
Brant  being  employed  as  interpreter  for  a  young 
minister  who  had  resolved  to  devote  his  life  and 
his  small  fortune,  sufficient  to  support  himself  and 
his  interpreter,  to  the  missionary  work.  But  the 
Pontiac  war  broke  out,  and  the  young  brave 
could  stay  at  no  such  tame  business  when  war  was 
abroad. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


I 


SIR   WII-T.IAM     JOHNSON    AND     TIIK     TONTIAC   WAR. 

TlIF,  Indians  aloni^  the  border,  at  the  close  of 
the  French  war,  were  many  of  them  in  ahnost 
o}^en  hostihty.  There  was  much  (hscontent  in 
the  nnr*^';  west,  and  one  of  the  Six  Nations,  the 
Seneca.,  was  involved  in  it.  It  was  (Hscovered 
tliat  these  Indians  had  sent  belts  of  w^ampum  to 
the  tribes  of  the  north-west,  inviting  the  Wy- 
andots  to  massacre  the  [garrison  at  Detroit,  and 
[)lotting-,  in  conjunction  with  the  Delawares  and 
Shawnees,  to  fall  treacherously  upon  Niag-ara  and 
Fort  Pitt. 

Under  these  circumstances  Johnson  set  out  on  a 
wearisome  wilderness  journey  to  Detroit  to  hold  a 
general  Indian  council.  At  Niagara  he  called  a 
council  of  the  Senecas.  lie  told  them  about  the 
discovery  of  their  plot,  and  asked  the  meaning  of 
such  conduct.  They  replied  with  innocent  sur- 
prise, denying  all  knowledge  of  such  a  conspiracy, 
and  onfirming  their  speech  as  usual  with  a  belt. 
But    Sir    William    was   not    in    a    mood  for    the 


P 


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I      > 


.,j_i ;rr 


I    ■ 


>     »^ 


1 68 


URANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


mild  remonstrances  which  he  commonly  used 
when  (lealinjj-  with  the  Indians.  lie  had  trained 
their  affection  and  respect  by  his  kindliness, 
and  now  when  he  used  harsh  words  they  were 
effective. 

"  As  this  is  so  villainous  an  affair,"  said  he,  "  and 
carried  so  far,  I  must  tell  you  plainly  that  I  look 
upon  what  you  now  tell  me  as  only  an  evasion  and 
a  kind  of  excuse  to  blind  us.  And  I  tell  you  that 
all  the  excuses  you  can  make,  and  all  the  rhetoric 
your  nation  is  the  master  ui,  will  not  satisfy  the 
general  nor  convince  me  of  your  mnocence,  unless 
a  deputation  of  your  chiefs  appears  at  the  general 
meeting  which  I  am  now  calling  at  Detroit,  and 
there,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  nations,  declares 
your  innocence  and  disapprobation  of  what  was 
done  by  the  two  messengers  last  month  at  Detroit. 
This  I  expect  3'ou  will  do  to  show  your  bn^thren 
your  innocence  and  all  the  Indians  your  detesta- 
tion of  so  vile  a  plot."  Sir  William  then  returned 
their  belt  to  show  them  that  he  did  not  beheve 
what  they  had  said.  This  staggered  the  Indians 
Thev  consulted  together  for  some  time. 

"  Brother,"  they  said  at  Ias<:,  "you  are  very  ha/J 
upon  us  af<er  our  hoiiCst  dociaration  of  innocence. 
However,  as  \t  does  !iOt  give  you  sathii'.cXnm, 
we    Vvill    send  off    to-niorrinv    moniin^f    ymr   belt 


^ 


-^" — 


THE    rONTIAC    WAR. 


169 


to  our  nation,  with  wliat  you  liavc  said  thereon, 
and  wc  doi'bt  not  hut  sonic  ol  our  chiel  men 
will  be  ready  to  go  to  tlie  proposed  meeting-  at 
Detroit,  and  there  satisfy  you  and  the  worhl  of 
their  innocence." 

Sir  WilHam  Johnson  gave  them  some  presents, 
such  as  must  always  sugar-coat  any  transaction 
with  the  Indians.     They  wanted  anununition. 

**  How  can  you  expect  i.nmiunition  to  be  given 
to  a  people  who  arc  mad  enough  to  think  of  cpiar- 
relling  with  the  English?"  said  Johnson.  Never- 
theless he  gave  tliem  enough  to  kill  some  game 
on  their  way  home. 

When  Sir  William  Johnson  had  arrived  at  De- 
troit he  was  waited  on  by  deputations  of  Indians 
with  presents  of  corn.  He  returned  the  compli- 
ment by  giving  them  pipes  and  tobacco,  with,  the 
feast  of  a  barbecued  ox. 

Before  the  opening  of  the  great  Indian  coimcil 
Johnson  was  kept  occujjied  with  various  official 
business,  but,  like  the  gentlemen  of  his  time,  he 
found  leisure  to  attend  the  balls  given  at  Detroit 
in  his  honor,  and  to  dance  till  fivi  o'clock  in  the 
morninir. 

Willi  the  tiring  of  two  cannon  the  great  Indian 
council  o|)ened.  An  imnit  i-'*  concourse  ol  the 
savages  had    gathered   from  the   north,  west,  and 


|1' 


I 


Ml 


'  t 


I70 


15UANT   AND    KKD    lACKKT. 


—  i 


south  to  sec*  (he  man  at  whose  lioiisc  was  the  coun- 
cil-lire ol   the  Six  Nations.     Tliev  were  all   in  irala 
(liess,  painted  and  ornanienti'd  ;   lor  no  one  is  more 
])ai"tieular  about   peisonal  aj)i)carance  than  the  In- 
tlian.      W'luMi  the  (.onneil    was   i^atlu'i'ed   Sir   Wil- 
liam   and    his    ollicers,    in     lull    uniform,    walked 
into    the    assenii)lv.       Johnson    then     made     them 
a     loni;-    Irientlly    speech,    after    which    the    coun- 
cil  adjourned    till    the    foUowinj^    day,   lest,   said 
the  Wyandot   chiefs,  some  of    the   Indians,  loiter- 
ino-   around   the   fort,    mi<j;^lU  jj^et  drunk.      On   the 
foUowiui:^  day  two  cannon   were  ai^ain   tired,  and 
the  orcat  council  ai^ain  i^athered.     The  nations  of 
the  north-west  made  a  very  satisfactory  answer  to 
Sir  William's  speech.    Kaiaghshota,  a  Seneca  chief, 
arose,  and  made  an  elei;ant  S|>eech   cleariui;  liini- 
self  and   his  nation  of  participating^  in  the   rccxMit 
plot.     But    Atlariai^hta,    an    influential    Wyandot 
brave,  sprang  tt)  his  feet  and  confronted  the  Seneca 
with  an  exact  account  of   how  he  had   been  one  of 
the  main   plotters,  and   had   been  with   the  messen- 
gers sent  to  the  Wyand(^ts  by  the  Scnecas.     Up*m 
this  an    Ohio     Indian,    called    the   White    Mingo, 
spoke  accusing  the  Wyandot  of  endeavoring  in  his 
turn  to  incite  the  Indians  of  his  l(»cality  to  a  massa> 
ere  of  the  English  garrisons.      A  hubbub  ensued, 
which  was  likely  to  end   in  blows,  when  Sir  Wil- 


Y, 


TIIK    PONTIAC    WAR. 


r  ' 
171 


liam  dissolved  the  assembly,  amioiineiii^  tliat 
to  -  inoiTow  he  would  disl  tihiite  j)reseiils,  of 
wliitli  he  had  i)rouL;hl  a  lar<4-(^  ('iiaiititv  with 
him.  I'he  c^oimci!  eii(U'(l,  and  in  a  few  more 
(lavs  Johnson  stalled  h)r  home,  hi"st  f4ivin<^ 
a  farewell  dinner  and  ball  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Detroit. 

Manv  Indian  tribes  had  been  forced  by  tlu;  re- 
sults ol  the  war  to  chanii^e  from  a  loni;  alliance 
with  the  I'^rench  to  an  alliance  with  the  h^n^-lish 
power.  The  French  were  most  adroit  in  Indian 
diplomacy,  insinuating^  themselves  sometimes  even 
into  the  affections  of  the  implacable  Inujuois. 
With  some  few  notable  exceptions,  such  as  Sir 
William  Johnson,  Caj)tain  John  wSmith,  and  Wil- 
liam IJenry  Harrison,  the  Enj^lish  and  Americans 
were  lar  from  bein<^  successful  mana<^ers  of  In- 
dians. In  the  forts,  where  they  had  been  formerly 
llattercd  and  loaded  with  presents  by  the  French, 
they  found  themselves  gruffly  treated,  and  their 
annual  gifts  stinted  and  sometimes  cut  off  entirely. 
The  English  Government,  now  that  there  was  no 
dangerous  rival  to  compete  with  it  in  the  affections 
of  the  Indians,  unwisely  thought  to  economize  by 
stopping  all  gift-making.  Moreover,  the  Indians, 
ewcroached  upon  by  hjrts  and  settlements  from  all 
sides,  and  no  longer  courted  by  rival  powers,  found 


}v\ 


I      ! 


172 


15RANT   AND    RED    fACKKT. 


I    I 


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tliat  tlicir  di^^nit}'  and  influence  were  fast  waning. 
These  were  the  causes  ol  the  tearful  war  wiiich 
broke  upon  the  remoter  settlements,  annihilating^ 
the  garrisons,  and  sweeping  from  existence  all  tho 
smaller  forts  of  the  west.  The  master-si)irit  ol 
this  wai  was  the  great  l^)ntiac,  who  had  laid  a 
plot  to  massacre  the  garrison  of  Detroit,  which 
only  failed  llirough  the  tender  heart  of  a  Chip- 
pewa girl,  who  revealed  the  conspiracy  U)  the 
commandant. 

While  this  blood}'  war  was  raging,  it  was  most 
important  that  Sir  William  Johnson  should  pre- 
serve friendly  relations  with  the  Six  Nations, 
otherwise  the  frontier  of  New  York  would  have 
been  devastated  and  all  commimication  with  the 
western  posts  cut  off.  The  more  eastern  tribes  of 
the  confederacy  were  inclined  to  "  hold  fast  to  the 
chain  of  friendship,"  as  they  expressed  it;  but  the 
Senecas,  who  were  much  the  most  powerful,  hav- 
ing fully  a  thousand  warricors,  were  implicated  in 
the  conspiracy.  Sir  William  Johnson  held  various 
coimcils  with  the  friendly  Iroquois  at  this  time. 
In  one  of  his  speeches  he  handed  them  an  axe, 
saying,  with  regard  to  the  Senecas,  "  I  now  de- 
liver you  a  good  English  axe,  which  I  desire  you 
will  give  to  the  warriors  of  all  your  nations,  with 
directions  to  use  it  against  these  covenant-breakers 


I 


c 


TIIK    PONTIAC    WAR. 


173 


I, 


by  cuttinn^  (^ff  the  bad  links  which  linvc  sullied  ihc 
chain  of  friendship." 

Tiirouf^h  llic  influence  of  Sir  Wilham  Johnson, 
the  friendly  Indians  of  tlie  Six  Nations  sent  this 
message  to  their  old  subjects  who  were  in  open 
hostility:  "Cousins,  the  Delawares  :  We  have 
heard  that  many  wild  Indians  in  the  west,  who 
have  tails  like  bears,  have  let  fall  the  chain  of 
friendship  and  taken  uj>  tlie  hatchet  against  our 
brethren  the  English.  We  desire  you  to  hold  fast  to 
the  chain,  and  shut  3'our  ears  against  their  words." 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  bands  of  hostile  Indians 
occasionally  got  a  chance  at  the  more  remote  set- 
tlements of  New  York.  A  general  terror  spread 
over  the  country.  The  inhabitants  of  one  settle- 
ment fled  for  life,  terrified  by  hearing  a  band  of 
hunters  fire  their  guns  off  simultaneously  at  a 
covey  of  partridges.  The  hostile  tribes  especially 
threatened  Sir  William  Johnson's  life  on  account 
of  his  influence  with  the  Iroquois,  lie  armed  his 
tenants,  numbering  some  hundred  and  twenty 
Highland  Scotch  families,  and  fortified  his  home. 

A  war-party  of  the  hostile  Senecas  lay  in  am- 
bush on  the  carry  at  Niagara  rapids  and  falls.  As 
a  convoy  of  wagons  from  Fort  Schlosser,  escorted 
by  twenty-four  soldiers,  wound  along  the  road, 
they    rushed   upon   them,    butchering    them    and 


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r.RANT   AND   RKT)    TACKET. 


II 


driving  men,  horses,  and  wnjjfons  over  a  precipice 
into  the  ravine  known  as  ihe  Devil's  Hole.  Two 
companies  of  soldiers  luirryini^  to  their  relief 
shared  the  same  fate,  and  the  Senecas  returned 
with  eighty  scalps. 

The  friendly  Irocpiois  had  acce|>led  wSir  William 
Johnson's  axe,  and  engaged  themselves  in  the 
various  expeditions  of  smaller  war-j)arties  against 
the  hostile  Indians.  It  was  in  such  expeditions 
that  Brant  fought  during  the  l^ontiac  war.  lie 
was  a  tall,  handsome  yoimg  Indian,  with  a  rather 
lighter  complexion  than  most  of  his  race  and  a 
very  bright  eye.  In  the  light  costume  of  the  In- 
dian warrior,  divested  of  blanket  and  shirt,  and 
decorated  with  war-paint,  he  sang  the  dismal  war- 
song  and  danced  the  war-dance  around  the  Mo- 
hawk camp-fire,  joined  by  some  ambitious  young 
men  who  were  ready  to  go  to  battle  under  his 
cadership.  They  fl(jurished  their  hatchets  over 
each  others'  heads,  worked  themselves  into 
ferocious  courage,  and  then  set  out  upon  the 
war-path.  They  creep  through  the  unbroken  for- 
est, noticing  every  trail  and  marking  the  slightest 
sound.  Thev  come  upon  the  track  of  a  small  war- 
party  like  themselves,  and  creep  stealthily  upon 
their  camp,  kill  a  hostile  Delaware  chief,  and  take 
three  prisoners.     With   the   scalp  waving   like  a 


# 


^M 


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■  M 


THE   rONTIAC    WAR. 


175 


banner  before  them,  and  the  prisoners  oound  and 
guarded,  tliey  march  trium|)hantly  to  their  viUaj^e, 
and  from  there  to  Johnson  Hall  to  receive  appro- 
bation and  perhai)S  a  reward  from  the  baronet;  f(jr 
he  at  one  time  offered  hfty  dollars  apiece  for  the 
heads  of  two  chiefs  of  the  Delawares.  Such  was 
the  warfare  in  which  Brant  engaged.  An  Indian 
who  boldly  carries  out  such  expeditions  gains  re- 
nown as  a  brave,  and  is  on  the  road  to  chieftaincy 
in  coming  battles. 

The  mere  fact  of  the  body  of  the  Six  Nations 
having  taken  the  part  of  the  EngHsh  had  a  very 
salutary  effect  upon  the  hostile  Indians.  The 
Senccas  were  quick  to  sue  for  peace.  Sir  William 
Johnson  was  overrun  with  business  in  settling  the 
affairs  of  both  friendly  and  hostile  Indians.  In  1764 
he  wrote  :  "  I  have  at  present  every  room  in  my 
house  full  of  Indians,  and  the  prospect  before  me  of 
continual  business  all  the  winter,  as  the  Shawnees 
and   Delawares  may  be  expected  in  a  few  days." 

In  finally  making  the  great  peace,  Pontiac  said  : 
"  I  now  deliver  my  pipe  to  be  sent  to  Sir  William 
J(3hnson,  that  he  may  know  I  have  made  peace 
and  taken  the  king  of  England  for  my  father  in 
presence  of  all  the  nations  now  assembled ;  and 
whenever  any  of  these  nations  go  to  visit  him 
thsy  may  smoke  out  of  it  with  him  in  peace." 


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CHAPTER    XXI. 

BRANT   IN  TIME   OF   PEACE. 

Brant  married  the  daughter  of  an  Oneida 
chief,  probably  about  1765.  According  to  the 
ancient  custom  of  the  Mohawks,  the  mother  of  a 
young  brave  arranged  the  marriage,  and  her  son 
had  nothing  whatever  to  say  about  it.  She 
usually  waited  until  her  son  was  about  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  that  up  to  that  time  he  piisrht 
be  free  as  a  hunter  and  wr^rrior,  and  also  that  he 
might  gain  distinction  as  a  brave  ;  for  no  Indian 
maiden  respects  a  young  man  who  does  not  pos- 
sess a  string  of  scalps.  When  the  mother  con- 
siders it  the  proper  time  for  her  son  to  be  married, 
she  goes  to  the  mother  of  the  girl  whom  she  has 
selected,  and  they  arrange  the  matter  together. 
They  then  announce  their  intentions  to  the  bride 
and  groom,  and  the  following  day  the  girl  is  taken 
to  the  young  man's  home,  where  she  presents  his 
mother  some  cakes  of  Indian  corn-bread,  signify- 
ing her  ability  to  do  the  household  work  of  her 
husband,  and  the  mother-in-law  in  turn  gives  the 


■ 


BRANT   IN   TIME   OF   PEACE. 


177 


bride's  mother  venison  or  other  game,  signifying 
the  young  man's  ability  to  provide  for  his  wife. 
This  is  the  marriage  ceremony.  It  is  very  likely 
that  Brant  was  married  according  to  the  custom 
of  his  fathers,  though  his  wedding  may  also  have 
been  sancti(^ned  by  the  marriage  ceremony  of  the 
English  Church ;  for  there  were  Episcopal  mis- 
sionaries then  in  the  Mohawk  Valley. 

Brant  rettled  at  Canajoharie,  on  the  Mohawk 
River,  the  middle  of  the  three  Mohawk  towns, 
and  the  home  of  his  childhood.  Here  he  had  a 
comfortable  house,  with  all  needful  furniture.  It 
was  a  place  of  entertainment  for  the  missionaries 
among  the  Mohawks.  Brant  was  often  employed 
at  this  time  by  Sir  William  Johnson  on  various 
diplomatic  missions  to  the  different  Indian  nations 
with  which  Sir  William  had  business.  He  was 
undoubtedly  very  intimate  in  the  Johnson  family. 
Sir  William  Johnson  was  at  the  height  of  his  pros- 
penty.  In  addition  to  the  original  home,  he  had 
built  Johnson  Hall,  in  the  present  village  of  Johns- 
town, a  summer  villa  which  he  called  Castle  Cum- 
berland, and  a  rustic  hunting-lodge.  He  was 
passionately  fond  of  fishing,  and  to  this  hunting, 
lodge  he  used  to  come  to  enjoy  his  favorite  sport. 
He  took  great  pride  in  his  fruit-trees,  and  in  the 
culture  of  rare  plants.      He  introduced    blooded 


R4>  ^m^'^t^^i. . 


i«««»««!Bi^MiifWi<»W»V«f,-''^i*»i Wlv;«;i<i?i .  i!-^^  „  ,>.  ,»«  , 


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.  I 


Mil 
! 

I 

i 


178 


DkANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


horses  and  cattle  into  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk, 
and  was  continually  adding  to  his  library.  He 
exerted  himself  in  every  way  to  improve  the  set- 
tlements around  him.  "He  formed  with  his  own 
hand,"  said  a  gentleman  of  his  day,  "a  little 
world,  as  it  were." 

Sir  William  Johnson  presents  the  strange  anom- 
aly of  a  man  with  all  the  tastes  and  habits  of  an 
English  country  gentleman,  with  immense  estates 
and  a  devoted  tenantry,  but  with  a  Mohawk  wife 
and  half-breed  children,  his  "  mansion"  thronged 
with  vsavages,  and  he  himself  pushing  his  affairs 
with  all  the  energy  born  of  a  new  country. 

He  especially  encouraged  athletic  sports.  Once 
a  year  he  invited  the  braves  of  the  Six  Nations  to 
Johnson  Hall,  to  play  the  Indian  games.  He  en- 
couraged the  old  English  field-sports  among  his 
tenantry,  and  he  appointed  *'  sport-days"  at  Johns- 
town. He  was  fond  of  boisterous  fun,  and  on 
"  sport-days"  he  introduced  the  bag-races  known  to 
college  boys,  and  burlesque  horse-races,  in  \vhich 
the  riders  were  seated  with  their  faces  toward  the 
horses'  tails.  There  were  also  races  in  which 
young  men  chased  Guinea-pigs  whose  tails  were 
shaved  and  greased,  the  one  who  succeeded  in 
catching  and  holding  the  pig  by  the  tail  winning 
the  prize.     He  had  matches  in  which  each  one 


1 


BRANT   IN   TIME  OF   PEACE. 


179 


< 


tried  to  sing  the  worst  song,  and  matches  at  mak- 
ing the  ugliest  faces.  He  superintended  an  annual 
fair  for  the  benefit  of  the  surrounding  country, 
giving  the  prizes  from  his  own  purse  for  the  best 
farm  products.  He  fitted  up  a  Masonic  hall  at 
his  home,  and  here  Brant  was  initiated  into  the 
lodge. 

A  story  is  told  of  the  summary  way  in  which 
Sir  William  Johnson  enforced  justice.  He  heard 
that  one  of  his  tenants  had  maltreated  his  old 
father.  Johnson  sent  for  the  man,  and  took  him 
into  his  private  office.  He  talker-  with  him  on 
•various  subjects.  * 

"How  is  your  father,  the  old  man  ?"  casually 
asked  Sir  William.  "  I  have  beard  that  he  is 
troublesome.  If  such  is  the  case,  I  don't  know  as 
you  could  do  better  than  to  chastise  him  a  little." 

"  I  have  done  it,"  answered  the  man. 

Sir  William  turned  the  key  in  the  door,  and, 
taking  down  a  horsewhip  hanging  un  the  wall,  he 
whipped  the  man  soundly. 

"  Go  home,  you  villain,  and  flog  your  father 
again !"  exclaimed  the  baronet,  as  he  oi)ened  tile 
door. 

In  this  insight  into  the  home  life  of  Sir  William 
Johnson  we  see  also  the  surroundings  in  which 
Brant   lived.     He  was   in    and  out  of  Johnson's 


•  n 


tTSQfi 


WSSS^ 


1 1{  I . 


i  111  fi 


,  I 


i8o 


BRANT   AND    RFD   JACKET. 


niruision  almost  daily.  lie  doubtless  participated 
ill  the  sports  at  Jolinst)n  Hall,  and  he  was  the 
trusty  inevSsenger  of  its  master. 

Hraut  had  two  little  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter.  In  1771  his  wife  died  of  consumption, 
a  disease  very  common  among-  Indians.  After  this 
Brant  came  down  to  Fort  Hunter,  some  thirty 
miles  beh)w  Canajoharie,  on  the  site  of  the  lower 
Mohawk  castle,  or  fortified  town.  He  lived  here 
for  some  time  in  the  family  of  an  Indian  mission- 
ary, Dr.  Stewart,  assisting  him  in  making  some 
translations  into  Mohawk  for  missionary  use. 
About  this  time  also  he  joined  the  church,  attend-* 
ed  sei*vice  regularly,  and  was  very  mucii  inter- 
ested in  the  improvement  of  iiis  peojile. 

It  is  customary  for  a  young  Indian  to  bind  iiini- 
self  as  a  friend  for  life  to  some  other  young  man. 
A  great  deal  of  importance  is  attached  to  this  re- 
lationship. Brant  selected  for  his  friend  a  half-  » 
l)av  officer  in  the  British  service.  Lieutenant  John 
Prevost,  to  whom  he  became  greatlv  attaciied. 
The  young  Englishman  was  then  living  in  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley.  At  the  ai)proach  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Lieutenant  Frevost  was  ordered  to 
the  West  Indies.  Brant  w^as  inconsolable  for  the 
loss  of  his  friend. 

"Do    not    be   so  i^urrowful,"   said  Dr.  Stewart. 


I 


u 


•^ 


HRANT    IN    TIMF,    ()!•    IM-ACK. 


I8l 


"Console  yourself  with  another  friend- myself, 
for  instance." 

"  No,"  said  Brant,  "  I  cannot  do  that.  I  am 
Captain  John's  friend,  and  1  cannot  have  another 
friend  at  the  same  time." 

He  showed  his  affection  for  the  friend  whom 
perhaps  he  never  met  again  by  selecting  an  entire 
Indian  outfit  of  the  richest  furs,  and  sending  it  to 
Lieutenant  iVevost  at  Jamaica. 

In  1772  Brant  asked  Dr.  Stewart  to  marry  him 
to  his  first  wife's  half-sister.  The  minister  refused, 
as  it  is  against  the  law  of  the  English  Church  to 
marry  a  deceased  wife's  sister.  Brant  argued 
very  sensibly  that  the  relationship  was  an  advan- 
tage, as  his  sister-in-law  would  make  a  better 
mother  to  his  children.  Still  Dr.  Stewart  refused 
to  violate  the  law  of  the  church,  and  Brant  was 
compelled  to  get  the  Lutheran  minister  at  the 
German  settlement  in  the  Mohawk  Valley  to  per- 
form the  ceremony. 


u 


I  ;    '. 


1 


ii  I 


CMArXER  XXII. 

THE    STOKM     liRKWING. 

TllK  Revolution  was  aj)])r()achin<^.  New  YorK 
constantly  protested  her  loyalty,  but  still  claimed 
her  liberty.  The  people  even  in  llie  valley  of  the 
Mohawk  were  in  a  ferment.  A  wise  and  observ- 
ant man  like  Sir  William  Johnson  could  not  but 
read  the  si^ns  of  the  times.  lie  was  i)laeed  in  a 
difil'icult  position.  Havinj^  buih.  his  own  fortinie 
and  raised  himself  from  the  pe()[)le,  it  was  believed 
that  he  sympathized  witli  the  people  in  their 
grievances.  But  he  had  been  honored  and  en- 
riched by  the  crown,  and  would  undoubtedly  have 
sided  with  the  crown.  On  th'j  other  hand,  he  was 
the  one  man  who  had  a  great  influence  over  the 
Indians.  King  George  was  resolved  to  hold  abso- 
lute power  over  England's  great  child,  who  had 
grown  beyond  the  reins  of  her  distant  authority, 
and  the  stubborn  monarch  had  no  hesitation  about 
using  mercenaries  and  Indians  in  subduing  rebels. 
Sir  William  Johnson  would  be  compelled  to  exert 
his  immense  influence  to  turn  savages  with  their 


^% 


^U.„.., 


THE   SToRM    BREWING. 


183 


war  of  fire  and  tomahawk  upon  the  thrivinj^  scttlc- 
nients  of  the  Mohawk,  the  "little  world"  which 
he  had  built  up  around  him,  as  well  as  upon  thj 
whole  frontier  which  he  had  labored  so  lon^  to 
protect.  The  younger  members  of  the  Johns(;n 
family,  Colonel  Claus  and  Colonel  Guy  Johnson, 
who  had  married  Sir  William's  eldest  daughters, 
and  Sir  John  Johnson,  his  eldest  son,  were  hotly 
l(jyal  to  the  king.  They  lived  in  handsome  houses 
and  with  a  great  deal  of  splendor. 

But  Sir  William  Johnson  was  not  destined  to 
take  part  in  America's  fresh  struggles.  lie  was 
one  day  holding  an  Indian  council  under  a  burn- 
ing July  sun.  I  le  had  been  speaking  for  two  hours 
when  he  was  seized  with  a  serious  attack  of  the 
disease  from  which  he  had  suffered  for  several 
years.  His  eldest  son  was  sent  for.  Sir  John 
Johnson  mounted  a  swift  blooded  horse  and  n^de 
for  Johnson  Hall  with  all  speed.  His  horse 
dropped  dead  when  he  was  yet  three  cjuarters  of 
a  mile  away,  and,  having  procured  another,  he 
reached  the  hall  just  in  time  to  see  his  father  dying 
in  the  arms  of  an  old  servant. 

Great  was  the  sorrow  (jf  the  Indians  at  the  loss 
of  their  friend.  The  Mohawks  attended  his 
funeral  in  a  body.  On  the  following  day  they 
made  the  speech  of  condolence  customary  among 


:ii^ 


I   J! 


I! 


184 


llKAN'r   AND    Ki:r)   JACKI/r. 


llir  Indians  to  his  son  and  sons-in-law.  Wit!  a 
lu'lt  oi  \vani|»utn  llu'v  swept  llic  lin'i»lat;i'  (•lf..n, 
tiial  tlu'v  nii^lit  rontinnc  to  sit  aronnd  it  ;  witli  an- 
otiicr  tlu'v  ck'ansfd  the  nionrncis  ol  tlicii*  ^ricf ; 
witli  another  they  swept,  the  l)lac:k  clonds  from 
tlie  sky.  tliat  tlie  snn  inif»ht  l)e  seen;  and  with  still 
another  tiiey  pnt  the  sun  in  its  pro|)er  course 
a^ain  :  all  tliese  disorders  l)ein«:^  supposed  to  have 
been  pi«)du(HMl  hy  the  death  of  their  friend. 
Colonel  (iuy  Johnson,  accordins^  to  the  baronet's 
wish,  became  Indian  Superintendent,  while  Sir 
John  succ:eeded  to  his  title  and  to  ample  estates. 
Hy  his  will  his  vast  tracts  of  land  were  divided 
amouij;  his  children  and  friends,  nnd  Miss  Molly 
was  ami>ly  provided  lor.  liraiit  now  became  sec- 
retary to  Colonel  (iuy  Johnson. 

The  yt)uni^  men  of  the  Johnson  family  thought 
to  crush  the  risiui^  si)irit  of  liberty  in  their  own 
neighborhootl.  One  day  some  three  hundred  peo- 
ple had  i^athered  at  a  neijj;;hl)or"s  house  to  raise  a 
liberty-pole.  Before  this  object,  most  hateful  in 
the  eyes  of  loyalists,  had  been  raised  the  mectinj^ 
jwas  interrupted  by  Sir  John  Johnson  with  his 
brothers-in-law,  i^uarded  by  a  band  of  servants 
and  tenants,  all  well  armed.  Ciuy  Johnson  mounted 
a  high  stoop  and  made  the  assembled  people  a 
speech,  eutlcavoring  to  show  them  their  folly   in 


Till',    STOKM    l!ki;VVJN(;. 


rS: 


f)p|)f>sin|j;  the  Kiii;^^  of  (•ji^laiul.  lie  ahiisctrl  tlic 
icIk'Is  nuiiidly.  Ihc  p('<»|>lc  were  lot.illy  iiiiarrncd. 
'They  boiled  uilli  iiidi^iialion  Ml  hciii;^  lliiis  irilirni- 
datcd.  At  las!  a  wealthy  farmer's  s(mi,  Jacoh  Sam- 
nioiis,  called  out  in  the  midst  of  the  eolrjiicd's 
speech,  "  Voii  are  a  liar  !U)d  a  villain!"  VVhere- 
iij)()ii  Johnson  answered  with  at»  oath  and  sei/ed 
Sammotis  by  the  throat.  There  was  a  seiiflle  be- 
tween Ihi;  two  men,  and  the  farmer  was  struck 
down  with  a  loaded  whip  by  one  <, I  the  lovalists. 
1 1(;  came  to  his  senses  to  find  one  of  Johnson's 
servants  sittinu^  npon  his  borly.  With  a  blow  he 
knocked  the  fellow  off,  and,  sprirjj.dnj^'  io  his  feet, 
pulled  off  his  coat,  for  a  fi^ht.  'J' wo  j^ist.ols,  how- 
ever, were  held  at.  his  breast.,  and  he  was  knocker! 
down  and  beaten  with  clubs.  Most,  of  the  assc;m- 
bled  peo[)le  had  f^one  home  when  Sammons  a^ain 
recovered  his  feet.  Johnson's  party  now  retired, 
havinjj^  broken  u\)  the  meetini^.  This  was  but  a 
foreshadow iij'j;-  of  the  hornjr  of  civil  war,  that 
hatred  of  neii^hbors  for  neighbors  which  en^'cn- 
dcrs  the  worst  cruelties.  But  an  older  and  a  wiser 
man  mi<>^ht  have  t(jld  the  youn^  loyalists  that  they 
could  not  thus  stamp  out  the  spirit  of  liberty  in  the 
f)cojjle.  The  meetings  were  c(3ntinued  and  enthu- 
siastically attended. 

The  Indians,  naturally  enough,  did  not  appre- 


:'i  . 


1 86 


IIRANT  AND   RED  JACKKT. 


'    ^ 


ciatc  the  causes  which  led  the  American  people  to 
a  revolt.  To  Brant  and  his  people  it  seemed  but 
ri^ht  that  they  should  still  hold  to  the  covenant 
chain  which  had  bound  the  Six  Nations  to  the 
Kini^  of  EnjTfland  for  so  many  3'ears.  The  Johnson 
family  made  the  best  use  of  their  influence  with 
the  Iroquois  on  the  side  of  Great  Britain.  Kirk- 
land,  a  faithful  missionary  among  the  Oneidas,  was 
instructed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  use  his  influence  among  the  Indians  on 
the  side  of  the  colonics.  Brant  had  been  a  great 
friend  of  Mr.  Kirkland,  but  the  Indian  now  feared 
his  influence  among  the  Oneidas,  and  j^lotted  for 
the  removal  of  the  missionary.  At  Brant's  instiga- 
tion a  dissolute  Oneida  chief  made  charges  against 
Mr.  Kirkland  to  Guy  Johnson.  The  missionary, 
however,  defended  his  character  well,  and  the 
Oneidas  supported  him,  so  that  the  superintendent 
dared  not  remove  him,  though  he  forbade  him  to 
speak  a  word  to  the  Indians,  which  of  course  he 
did  not  obey. 

The  remnant  of  the  Hudson  River  Indians, 
known  as  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  remained  firm 
in  their  attachment  to  the  colonists,  and  used  their 
influence  with  the  Six  Nations  in  their  favor. 

"  You  remember  when  you  first  came  over  the 
great  waters,"  said  the  Stockbridge  Indians  to  the 


THE   STORM    nUFAVING. 


187 


^^Olonial  Congress,  "  I  was  great  and  you  were 
little — very  small.  I  then  took  yim  in  for  a  friend, 
and  kept  you  under  my  arms,  so  that  n(^  one  might 
injure  you.  .  .  .  But  now  our  eonditions  arc 
changed.  You  have  become  great.  You  reach 
to  the  clouds.  You  are  seen  around  the  world, 
and  I  am  become  small — very  little.  I  am  not  so 
high  as  your  heel.  ...  I  am  sorry  to  hear  of 
this  great  quarrel  between  you  and  Old  England. 
It  appears  that  blood  must  be  siied  to  end  this 
quarrel.  We  never  tiil  this  day  understood  the 
foundation  of  this  quarrel  between  )ou  and  the 
country  you  came  from.  Whenever  I  see  your 
blood  running  you  will  soon  find  me  about  to 
revenge  my  brothers'  blood.  Although  I  am 
low  and  very  small,  I  will  gripe  hold  of  your 
enemy's  heel.  ...  I  have  been  thinking,  before 
you  come  to  action,  to  take  a  run  to  the  west- 
ward and  feel  the  mind  of  my  Indian  brethren, 
the  Six  Nations,  and  know  how  they  stand — 
whether  they  are  on  your  side  or  for  yoar  enemies. 
If  I  find  they  are  against  you,  I  will  try  to  turn 
their  minds.  I  think  they  will  listen  to  me,  for 
they  have  always  looked  this  way  for  advice  con- 
cerning all  important  news  that  comes  from  the 
rising  of  the  sun.  .  .  .  One  thing  I  ask  of  you, 
if  you  send  for  me  to  fight,  that  you  will  let  me 


1 
li 


I 


J 


i'4 


1, 


i  I 


II 


I  ; 


1 88 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


fight  in  my  own  Indian  way.  .  .  Only  point 
out  to  me  where  your  enemies  keep,  that  is  all  I 
want  to  know." 

"  We  have  heard  of  the  unhappy  differences  and 
great  contention  between  you  and  Old  England," 
said  the  Oneidas.  "  We  wonder  greatly  and  are 
troubled  in  our  minds.  Possess  your  minds  in 
peace  respecting  us  Indians.  We  cannot  inter- 
meddle in  this  dispute  between  two  brothers.  .  .  . 
The  present  situation  of  you  two  brothers  is  new 
and  strange  to  us.  We  Indians  cannot  find  nor 
recollect  in  the  traditions  of  our  ancestors  the  like 
case.  We,  the  sachems  and  warriors  and  female 
governesses  of  Oneida,  send  our  love  to  you, 
brother-governor,  and  all  the  other  chiefs  in  New 
England." 

The  people  were  now  exceedingly  suspicious  of 
the  Johnson  family.  Sir  John  had  fortified  John- 
son Mall.  Upon  either  side  of  it  stood  two  stone 
towers,  and  around  it  was  a  strong  stockade 
guarded  with  artillery.  The  tenants  and  retainers 
of  the  family  were  all  well  armed.  Meantime 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson  had  received  some  intima- 
tion that  the  New  Englandcrs  intended  to  steal 
u[)on  him  and  capture  him.  He  wrote  letters  to 
some  of  the  chief  magistrates  complaining  of  this, 
and  notifying  them  that  if  the  superintendent  of 


THE    STORM    BREWING. 


189 


the  Indians  were  tamper'^d  with  they  would  take 
a  dreadful  revenge.  Colonel  Johnson  and  the  In- 
dians under  his  influence  seem  to  have  had  an 
especial  fear  of  the  sly  designs  of  Bostonians  in 
particular,  probably  because  they  were  the  au- 
thors of  the  famous  tea-party. 

A  letter  written  by  Brant  to  the  Oneida  sachems 
was  intercepted.  It  ran  thus  :  "  This  is  your  let- 
ter, you  great  ones  or  sachems.  Guy  Johnson 
says  he  will  be  glad  if  you  get  this  intelligence, 
you  Oneidas,  how  it  goes  with  him  now  ;  and  he 
is  now  more  certain  concerning  the  intention  of 
the  Boston  people.  Guy  Johnson  is  in  great  fear 
of  being  taken  prisoner  by  the  Bostonians.  We 
Mohawks  are  obliged  to  watch  him  constantly. 
Therefore  we  send  you  this  intelligence,  that  you 
shall  know  it;  and  Guy  Johnson  assures  himseif 
and  depends  upon  your  coming  to  his  assistance." 

A  council  with  the  Mohawks  was  held  at  Guy 
Park,  Colonel  Johnson's  mansion,  in  the  spring  of 
1775.  It  was  attended  by  some  of  the  members  of 
the  county  committees,  who  assured  the  Indians 
that  their  superintendent  would  not  be  molested. 
But  Colonel  Johnson  was  not  satisfied  with  an  In- 
dian council  under  the  eyes  of  the  detested  com- 
mittees. He  moved  up  the  Mohawk  accompanied 
by  Brant  and  a  large  company  of  Indians,  ostensi- 


If 
I] 


i  : 
■f  1 

1 


!■!    I 


190 


IIRANT  AND    UKD   JACKET. 


bly  to  hoid  a  council.  The  settlers  on  the  Mohawk 
were  in  constant  dread  lest  Johnson  should  return 
upon  them  and,  in  conjiniction  with  Sir  John,  fall 
upon  the  settlements.  They  stopped  his  supplies, 
and  thus  embarrassed  him  as  much  as  was  possi- 
ble. Colonel  Johnson  moved  on  west  to  Ontario, 
where  he  could  hold  a  <i;-rand  council  away  frofti 
the  supervision  of  the  rebellious  colonies. 

While  the  American  people  were  resolving;  to 
die  for  their  liberties  the  more  powerful  part  of 
the  Six  Nations  were,  as  Brant  afterwards  said, 
thinking  of  their  time-honored  covenant  with  the 
king,  and  saying,  "  It  will  not  do  for  us  to  break 
it,  let  what  will  become  of  us. 


i 


m»iUiiT,r,Ti?,fMi, 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


BRANT,   THE   WAR-CHIEF. 

From  Ontario  Colonel  Johnson  returned  to 
Oswego,  and  here  held  another  Indian  council.  It 
is  said  that  he  got  up  an  entertainment  for  the  In- 
dians, inviting  them  to  come  and  feast  on  a  Bos- 
tonian  and  drink  his  blood.  The  Bostonian  in 
this  case  was  a  barbecued  ox,  and  the  blood  was 
wine  furnished  by  the  colonel.  This  was  a  joke 
well  appreciated  among  the  Indians,  as  a  Boston- 
ian  was  the  representative  rebel  in  their  eyes,  but 
it  is  said  that  in  the  partisanship  of  the  time 
the  colonial  patriots  pretended  to  understand 
the  circumstance  literally,  and  made  good  use 
of  it  in  demonstrating  the  inhuman  cruelty  of 
loyalists. 

Colonel  Johnson  with  Brant  and  the  Mohawks 
now  crossed  into  Canada,  and  attended  a  great 
council  of  the  Six  Nations,  held  by  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  and  Sir  Frederick  Haldimand.  Here 
the  main  body  of  the  Iroquois  engaged  to  take 
part  on  the  British  side.     One  town  of  the  Mo- 


■  J ' 


I' 


I 


*  J 

11 


192 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


hawks  who  had  remained  in  the  valley,  and  still 
kept  up  friendly  relations  with  the  united  colo- 
nies, was  attacked  with  a  fearful  epidemic  which 
nearly  exterminated  the  inhabitants,  immediately 
after  a  peaceful  visit  to  Albany.  With  character- 
istic superstition,  they  attributed  the  pestilence  to 
the  anger  of  the  Great  Spirit  that  they  had  not 
joined  the  cause  of  the  king.  The  survivors  im- 
mediately decamped,  following  Colonel  Guy 
Johnson  into  Canada.  -  ' 

Meantime  Washington  had  ordered  General 
Schuyler  to  keep  his  eye  upon  Sir  John  Johnson. 
This  gentleman  kept  up  a  correspondence  with 
his  brother-in-law  in  Canada  by  means  of  the  Mo- 
hawk Indians,  who  carried  letters  in  the  heads  of 
their  tomahawks  and  hidden  in  the  numerous 
ornaments  of  their  costumes.  It  was,  moreover, 
beheved  that  there  was  a  large  depot  of  arms  and 
ammunition  in  the  neighborhood  of  Johnson  Hall. 
General  Schuyler  with  a  force  of  seven  hundred 
men  marched  upon  the  troublesome  baronet.  Sir 
John  Johnson  surrendered,  promised  neutrality, 
and  was  allowed  to  remain  at  liberty  on  parole. 
He  also  delivered  up  his  arms  and  ammunition,  and  ^ 
his  Highland  tenants  grounded  their  arms  before 
the  American  troops.  The  country  was  scoured 
for  Tories,  and  the  depot  of  arms  was  sought  for, 


i 


-SB- 


BRANT,    THE    WAR-CTITEF. 


193 


but  it  was  not  in  existence.  After  his  surrender 
the  baronet  still  worked  secretly  for  the  royal 
cause  among  the  Indians.  General  Schuyler  re- 
garded the  parole  as  broken,  and  undertook  to 
again  capture  Sir  John,  but,  warned  by  his  loyal- 
ist friends  in  Albany,  he  fled  the  country,  hastily 
burying  the  family  silver  in  his  cellar  and  intrust- 
ing the  secret  to  an  old  negro  servant.  He  dared 
not  go  to  Canada  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  not 
knowing  whether  royalists  or  rebels  were  in  pos- 
session there.  He  struck  off  into  the  wilderness 
with  his  band  of  followers,  and  sulTcred  much 
from  hardship  and  hunger  before  he  reached 
Canada. 

Brant,  or  Thayendancgca  as  he  was  called 
among  the  Indians,  had  now  become,  by  the  exi- 
gencies of  war,  by  his  connection  with  the  John- 
son family,  and  by  his  own  superior  mind  and 
gift  for  leadershii),  a  chief.  Writers  have  disputed 
as  to  whether  Brant  was  tJic  war-chief,  the  irreat 
captain  of  the  entire  confederacy.  As  no  such 
office  was  known  to  them,  it  was  impossible  for 
Brant  to  hold  it.  They  had  no  commander-in- 
chief,  but  fought  as  all  Indians  fight,  in  small 
parties  under  separate  chiefs.  Still  Brant  was  un- 
doubtedly much  the  most  powerful  and  influential 
of  the  Iroquois  war-chiefs. 


I 

'i 


I 


194 


r.RANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


Before  the  Americans  were  yet  sure  whether 
Brant  would  take  up  the  tomahawk  a<^ainst  them, 
his  old  school-master  was  asked  to  write  to  him 
on  the  subject.  President  Wheelock  accordingly 
wrote  Brant  a  very  long  letter,  using  every  argu- 
ment in  favor  of  the  colonists  that  he  thought 
would  have  weight  with  an  Indian.  Brant  an- 
swered with  Indian  wit  that  he  very  well  remem- 
bered the  happy  hours  that  he  had  spent  under  the 
doctor's  roof,  and  he  especially  remembered  the 
family  prayers,  and  above  all  how  his  school- 
master used  to  pray  **  that  they  might  be  able  to 
live  as  good  subjects,  to  fear  God,  and  honor  the 
king." 

Meantime  the  American  successes  in  Carada 
were,  for  the  time,  very  influential  with  the  Indians 
on  the  American  border,  many  of  whom  took 
sides  with  the  colonies.  It  is  possible  that  Brant, 
too,  felt  the  power  of  success,  and  that  the  English 
wished  him  to  see  the  mother-country  that  he 
might  judge  of  her  resources.  At  any  rate.  Brant 
sailed  for  England  in  the  fall  of  1775.  On  his  ar- 
rival in  London  he  was  taken  to  an  inn  called  the 
Swan  with  Two  Necks,  All  haste  was  made,  how- 
however,  to  prepare  other  lodgings  more  suitable 
for  an  "  Indian  king."  Brant,  however,  refused  to 
move,  saying  that  the  people  at    the    inn   had 


URANT,   THE   WAR-CHIEF. 


195 


treated  him  so  kindly  that  he  preferred  to  stay 
there.  Brant  was  much  Honizcd  while  he  was  in 
England.  He  was  courted  by  that  celebrated 
worshipper  of  great  men,  Boswell.  He  sat  for  his 
picture  twice  during  the  visit,  once  at  Boswell's 
request,  and  once  for  the  Earl  of  Warwick.  He 
commonly  wore  European  clothes,  but  he  had 
with  him  a  splendid  costume  made  in  Indian  style, 
in  which  he  appeared  at  court  and  upon  other 
great  occasions.  The  ladies  at  court  must  have 
been  shocked  at  the  sight  of  his  handsome  glitter- 
ing tomahawk  with  "J.  Thayendanagea"  engraved 
on  it.  He  bought  during  his  stay  a  gold  ring, 
upon  which  he  had  his  full  name  engraved,  that 
his  body  might  be  identified  in  case  of  his  death 
in  the  coming  battles.  Before  he  left  England 
Brant  promised  to  lead  three  thousand  Indians 
into  the  field  on  the  royal  side.  He  returned  to 
America  by  way  of  New  York  early  in  the  spring, 
and  was  secretly  landed  at  some  quiet  spot  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  city.  From  here  he  under- 
took the  dangerous  enterprise  of  stealing  through 
the  country  to  Canada. 

"  When  I  joined  the  English  in  the  beginning  of 
the  war,"  said  Brant  long  afterwards,  "  it  was 
purely  on  account  of  my  forefathers'  engagements 
with  the  king.      I  always  looked  on  these  engage- 


II 


1^ 


'i 

•I 


^■\ 


n 


4  ■ 
Ik 


*H 


196 


IJRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


ments,  or  covenants  between  the  king  and  the  In 
dian  nations,  as  a  sacred  thing  ;  therefore  I  was 
not  to  be  frightened  by  the  threats  of  rebels  at 
the  time." 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  CEDARS. 

The  general  of  the  royal  forces  in  Canada,  Sir 
Guy  Carleton,  was  a  mild  and  cautious  though  a, 
brave  man.  He  would  not  allow  the  Indians  at 
his  disposal  to  cross  the  border,  lest  they  should 
open  war,  in  their  cowardly  style,  on  the  frontier 
settlements.  Thus  the  Iroquois  did  not  play  a 
very  important  part  in  the  first  struggles  of  the 
Revolution. 

"  You  will  never  have  cause  to  blush  for  your 
Montgomery,"  said  the  American  general  of  that 
name,  as  he  bade  his  young  wife  good-by,  on 
starting  for  the  campaign  in  Canada.  With  ill. 
disciplined  troops,  composed  of  New  Englanders 
and  New  Yorkers,  of  whom  he  said  that  they 
were  "all  generals  but  not  soldiers,"  Montgomery 
undertook  the  siege  of  St.  Johns.  Carleton,  with 
great  difficulty  having  gathered  together  about 
eight  hundred  men,  attempted  to  raise  the  siege. 
He  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence  at  Montreal,  but,  as 
he  neared  the  opposite  shore,  his  forces  were  fired 


< 


•■  '.  ,'' ', 


A 

*  i 


V    ■    m 

m 


!  : 


iJ 


198 


BRANT  AND   KED   JACKET. 


Upon  by  a  detachment  of  the  famous  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys  and  forced  to  retreat.  After  a  deter- 
mined siege  of  fifty  days  St.  Johns  capitulated, 
and  Montgomery  took  triumphant  possession  of 
Montreal.  The  Canadians  were  now  many  of 
them  friendly  to  the  invaders,  and  the  Indians, 
said  Carleton,  "  chose  to  be  of  the  strongest  side, 
so  that  when  they  were  most  wanted  they  van- 
ished." It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Brant  sailed 
for  England,  and  while  he  was  there  the  tide  of 
success  turned. 

In  dire  need  of  soldiers,  money,  and  artillery, 
Montgomery  still  resolved  to  take  Quebec  if  pos- 
sible. The  detachment  sent  to  meet  him  at  Que- 
bec under  Arnold  arrived,  tattered,  starved,  and 
half  frozen,  after  a  long  wilderness  journey.  In 
the  depth  of  winter  Montgomery  encamped  before 
Quebec.  His  troops  were  all  enlisted  for  a  short 
length  of  time,  and  if  he  did  anything  it  must  be 
done  before  the  new  year.  On  the  night  of  the 
thirtieth  of  December,  under  a  fierce  midwinter 
storm,  the  daring  enterprise  of  storming  Quebec 
was  undertaken.  The  men  had  to  hold  down 
their  heads  to  avoid  the  pelting  of  the  storm,  and 
cover  their  guns  with  their  coats  to  keep  them 
dry.  They  attempted  drawing  a  field-piece  on  a 
9iV  i,  but  that  was  abandoned.    Two  feints  were 


THE   BATTLE   OF   THE   CEDARS. 


199 


made  along  the  line  of  defence  while  Mongomery 
attacked  from  one  quarter,  and  Arnold  from  the 
opposite.  Arnold  was  severely  wounded,  but  his 
men  carried  the  battery.  Montgomery  pressed  to 
the  attack,  but  the  brave  general  fell  at  the  can- 
non's mouth.  With  the  death  of  Montgomery  all 
hope  of  success  was  gone. 

The  Continental  Congress  could  not  yet  give 
up  the  subjugation  of  Canada.  Reinforcements 
were  sent  there  only  to  suffer  from  want  and  die 
of  the  small-pox.  When,  at  last,  an  English  fleet 
anchored  at  Quebec,  the  only  alternative  left  to 
the  colonial  forces  was  to  retreat. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Brant  reached 
Canada,  after  his  return  from  England.  In  com- 
mand of  large  bodies  of  Indians,  he  entered  imme- 
diately into  the  service.  Carleton  ordered  him, 
with  six  hundred  Iroquois,  to  join  a  company  of 
regulars  in  dislodging  the  Americans  from  a  point 
of  land  about  forty  miles  above  Montreal,  known 
as  The  Cedars.  The  American  commander.  Bedell, 
when  he  saw  the  English  and  Indians  approaching, 
deserted  under  pretence  of  going  for  reinforce- 
ments. The  command  was  left  to  Major  Butter- 
field,  who  seems  to  have  been  hardly  less  cow- 
ardly than  Bedell.  After  a  brief  fight  with  mus- 
ketry, he   was  intimidated   by   a  threat  that  the 


u 


f 
1 

41 


i!,il ' 


200 


HRANT   AND    RED    JACKET. 


Indians  would  have  no  mercy  if  the  Americans 
held  out  any  lon^^er,  and  surrendered,  against  the 
wishes  of  his  men.  lie  had  hardly  surrendered, 
when  a  detachment  was  sent  to  his  relief  by 
Arnold.  Ilavins^  no  intimation  of  the  surrender, 
the  detachment  was  attacked  by  Brant  when 
within  four  miles  of  The  Cedars.  A  sharp  battle 
ensued  ;  sometimes  the  Indians  were  driven  back, 
and  the  Americans  would  attack  even  more 
fiercely,  then  the  Indians  would  rally  again,  and 
the  Americans,  in  their  turn,  would  be  forced  to 
fall  back.  But  the  colonial  troops  were  at  last 
compelled  to  surrender.  The  savages  murdered 
several  of  the  prisoners  before  they  could  be 
stopped.  Brant  immediately  exerted  himself  in 
every  way  to  prevent  a  massacre.  One  of  the 
prisoners,  Captain  McKinistry,  who  was  wounded, 
was  selected  by  the  Indians  to  be  put  to  death  by 
torture.  Brant  would  not  permit  this,  but  a 
chief's  influence  is  not  very  great  in  such  cases, 
and  it  was  with  a  good  deal  of  trouble  that  he 
prevented  it.  To  soothe  the  feelings  of  his  disap- 
pointed savages,  he  and  some  of  the  British  officers 
made  up  a  purse,  with  which  they  bought  the 
Indians  an  ox  to  roast  instead  of  Captain  McKin- 
istry, who  was  treated  with  so  much  kindness  by 
the  young  chief  that  he  and  Brant  became  fast 


TIIIi:    BATTLE   OF   Till:   CEDARS. 


201 


friends.  In  after-years  Brant  never  passed  down 
the  Hudson  without  visiting  the  captain  at  his 
home. 

As  soon  as  Arnold  heard  of  the  disaster,  he 
marched  upon  the  Enghsh  and  Brant,  but  he  re- 
ceived a  threat  that  if  he  gave  battle  the  Indians 
could  not  be  restrained  from  butchering  the  pris- 
oners in  their  power.  Arnold  secured  the  ex- 
change of  the  prisoners,  however,  promising  to 
release  British  prisoners  in  return.  The  Ameri- 
can Congress  thought  itself  justified  in  neglecting 
to  fulfil  this  promise,  on  the  ground  that  the  Brit- 
ish had  committed  a  breach  of  faith  in  allowing 
the  Indians  to  kill  prisoners  of  war. 


'  1 


'i: 


-I    :iU 


i 


tt 


m't 


■■;  J 


I 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

WOODEN   GUNS  AND    FALSE   DISPATCHES. 

Carleton  was  censured  by  bitter  partisans  on 
the  English  side  for  having  damped  the  zeal  of  the 
Indiars  in  not  allowing  the  savages  to  pass  the 
border  of  Canada.  A  different  policy  was  in- 
augurated, and  a  cruel  border  warfare  began. 
The  small  bands  of  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras 
remained  friendly  to  the  United  States.  But  the 
strength  of  the  vSix  Nations  followed  Brant,  and 
the  famous  confederacy  was  thus  rent  in  two.  It 
was  announced  that  the  council-fire  at  Onondaga 
was  cxtinofuished. 

Brant  was  gathering  his  forces  at  the  Indian 
town  of  Oquaga,  on  the  Susquehanna,  in  1777. 
The  settlers  on  the  Mohawk  trembled.  Colonel 
John  Harper,  one  of  four  brothers  who  had 
founded  a  settlement  called  Harpersfield,  was 
sent  to  find  out  the  intentions  of  the  warriors. 
Taking  a  white  man  and  an  Indian  with  him,  he 
visited  Oquaga.  The  Indians  with  characteristic 
duplicity  said  that  their  intentions  were  peaceful, 


WOODEN   GUNS   AND    FALSE   DISPATCHES.      203 


and  that  thej  were  very  sorry  for  the  country's 
troubles.  In  a  few  months  after  this,  however, 
Brant  ascended  the  river  to  UnadiUa  with  a  band 
of  eighty  warriors,  and  called  upon  the  militia 
officers  and  the  minister  to  furnish  him  provisions. 
He  said  that  if  the  provisions  were  not  given  to 
him  peaceably  he  would  use  force. 

"The  Mohawks  always  were  warriors,"  said 
Brant,  when  cjuestioned  as  to  what  were  his  inten- 
tions. "  Our  agreement  with  the  king  is  very 
strong,  and  we  are  not  such  villains  as  to  break 
our  word." 

Nothing  remained  for  the  scattered  settlers  but 
to  furnish  the  provisions  Brant  had  demanded, 
but  when  he  was  gone  they  fled  to  a  more  popu- 
lous country.  Many  of  the  people  at  the  outposts 
of  frontier  settlements  had  taken  refuge  at  Cherry 
Valley.  Here  the  settlers,  to  protect  themselves, 
threw  up  an  embankment  of  logs  and  earth  around 
the  largest  house  of  the  neighborhood  and  its 
barns,  and  bmlt  also  two  small  block-houses  within 
the  enclosure.  Those  who  were  either  too  young 
or  too  old  to  go  into  service  elsewhere  formed 
themselves  into  a  company  for  the  protection 
of  the  settlement,  while  even  the  boys  paraded 
with  wooden  guns.  Meantime  Brant  at  Oc^uaga 
planned    an    attack    upon    Cherry    Valley.      He 


204 


IIRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


ni)i)r()achccl  the  settlement  with  his  Indians  one 
brij^^ht  May  morning,  and  t(X)k  an  observation  from 
tlic  distant  woods.  It  happened  just  at  this  moment 
that  tlie  boys  of  the  vSettlement  were  parading  in 
front  of  the  rude  fort  with  their  wooden  swords 
and  guns.  Brant  mistook  the  amateurs  for  real 
soldiers.  lie  with  his  party  moved  to  a  hiding- 
j>lace  along  the  roadside,  hoping  to  intercept  some 
one  who  would  give  him  information.  At  the 
spot  he  had  chosen  the  road  wound  along  the  edge 
of  a  [)recipicc  a  hinidred  and  fifty  feet  deep.  In 
this  wild  chasm  was  a  waterfall  called  by  the  In- 
dians Tckaharawa.  That  morning  Lieutenant 
Wormwood,  a  rich  young  gentleman  from  the 
Mohawk,  had  come  over  to  Cherry  Valley  to  tell 
the  inhabitants  that  reinforcements  were  to  be 
sent  for  their  defence.  lie  attracted  much  atten- 
tion at  the  settlement,  being  dressed  in  a  suit  of 
ash-colored  velvet.  As  he  started  away  he  threw 
down  his  portmanteau,  saying  that  he  would  not 
take  it,  as  Le  would  be  back  there  the  next  day 
with  his  regiment.  lie  was  accompanied  on  his 
ititurn  by  a  man  named  Peter  Sitz,  who  bore  dis- 
patches. A  crowd  watched  the  two  men  as  they 
rode  away  from  the  settlement.  As  they  neared 
the  wild  ravine  of  Tckaharawa  Brant  hailed  them, 
but  instead  c)f  answering  tlic\'  put  s[)iirs  to  their 


WOODEN    (UJNS    AND    FALSE    DISPATCTIES. 


!05 


horses  and  tried  to  pass.  Then  it  was  that  the 
people  at  tlie  village  heard  the  crack  of  musketry. 
The  young  man  fell  dead,  shot  down  by  Brant, 
while  Sitz's  horse  was  shot  from  under  him.  The 
Indians  rushed  out  and  captured  the  messenger, 
while  Brant  scalped  the  young  ofBcer.  Sitz  had 
been  provided  with  double  dispatches,  and  he  had 
the  presence  of  mind  to  deliver  the  false  ones  to 
Brant.  By  means  of  these  Brant  was  fortunately 
deceived  as  to  the  strength  of  Cherry  Valley  and 
retired.  It  is  said  that  the  chief  regretted  the 
death  of  the  young  man,  as  they  had  formerly  been 
friends.  He  had  fired  upon  him  supposing  him  to 
be  an  officer  of  the  Continental  army. 

Lieutenant  Wormwood's  horse  returned  to  the 
vSettlement  with  blood  upon  the  saddle,  and  his 
body  was  found  behind  a  rock  on  the  roadside, 
and  this  is  all  the  settlers  knew  of  the  affair.  In- 
dians of  course  were  the  slayers,  but  /t  was  not 
yet  known  in  the  settlement  that  Brant  had  com- 
mitted any  act  of  hostility. 


i  .1 


■■  'L 


{■ 


ml 
lilt' 


I- 


'  i 

■■t 
I 

>*  I 

'i 


$1 

■  m 


'.r 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


ATTEMPT  TO  KILT,  BRANT. 


i 


■J 


m 


li,i 


:ij! 


n 


BraisT'.s  forces  at  Oqiiai^a  continued  to  in- 
crease. It  was  evident  (hat  he  was  i)rei)arinij^  for 
some  hostile  movement.  The  people  on  the 
frontier  which  he  threatened  were  in  terror. 
General  Herkimer,  who  was  an  old  neijj^hhor  and 
friend  of  Brant,  determined  to  have  an  interview 
with  him,  hoping  perhaps  still  to  influence  him  to 
remain  neutral,  and  probablv  intending  to  capture 
the  chief  if  possible.  He  sent  a  messenger  inviting 
Brant  to  an  interview  with  him  at  Unadilla.  He 
marched  to  this  place  with  over  three  hundred  of 
the  militia.  Brant  moved  to  meet  him  with  some 
five  hundred  braves.  He  encamped  within  two 
miles  of  Herkimer,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  the 
general. 

"  Captain  Brant  wants  to  know  what  you  came 
here  for,"  said  the   messenger. 

"  I  merely  came  to  see  and  talk  with  my 
brother,  Captain  Brant,"  answered  Herkimer. 

"  Do  all  these  men  want  to  talk  with   Captain 


m^muftimtmitffpnilfggf 


a 


ATTKMI'T  TO    KILL    I'.KANT. 


207 


I! 


I- 


Bnmt  too?"  inquired  the  Indian.  "I  will  carry 
your  talk  back  to  Captain  Brant,  but  you  must 
not  come  any  farther." 

After  much  sending  back  and  forth  of  messen- 
gers, a  meeting  between  the  chief  and  the  general 
was  brought  about.  A  temporary  shed  was  built 
half-way  between  the  two  encampments,  and  the 
parties  agreed  to  meet  here  iniarmed.  General 
Herkimer  was  already  stationed  in  the  shed  when 
Brant  appeared  on  the  edge  of  the  woods,  accom- 
panied by  a  Tory  named  Captain  Bull,  young  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  Sir  William's  son  and  Brant's  own 
nephew,  another  Mohawk  chief,  and  an  Indian 
woman,  perhaps  Brant's  wife.  He  had  also  about 
forty  braves  with  him.  He  approached  Herki- 
mer's party  somewhat  cautiously,  naturally  sus- 
pecting treachery.  He  greeted  the  general,  and 
began  to  converse,  but  watched  his  face  with  a 
keen  eye. 

"  May  I  inquire  the  reason  of  my  being  so 
honored  ?"  said  the  polite  chief. 

"  I  came  only  on  a  friendly  visit,"  answered 
Herkimer. 

"And  all  these  have  come  on  a  friendly  visit 
too?"  and  Brant  eyed  Herkimer's  companions. 
"  All  want  to  see  the  poor  Indians  ?  It  is  very 
kind,"  said  the  chief,  sarcastically. 


I.  I 


^■'  I." 


I 


il!   ! 


308 


BRANT  AND    RED  JACKET. 


The  general  wanted  to  move  forward  to  the  vil- 
lage, but  Brant  told  him  that  he  was  near  enough, 
and  would  not  be  allowed  to  go  nearer.  Herkimer 
questioned  Brant  about  his  feelings  and  intentions 
with  regard  to  the  war  between  England  and  the 
colonies. 

"  The  Indians  are  in  concert  with  the  king  as 
their  fathers  were,"  answered  Brant,  earnestly. 
"  We  have  yet  got  the  wampum-belt  which  the 
king  gave  us,  and  we  cannot  break  our  word.  You 
and  your  followers  have  joined  the  Boston  people 
against  your  sovereign.  Yet,  although  the  Bos- 
tonians  are  resolute,  the  king  will  humble  them. 
General  Schuyler  was  very  smart  on  the  Indians  in 
his  treaty  with  them,  but  at  the  same  time  he 
could  not  afford  to  give  them  the  smallest  article 
of  clothing.  The  Indians  have  before  made  war 
upon  the  white  people  when  they  were  all  united  ; 
now  they  are  divided,  and  the  Indians  are  not 
frightened."  .  '^ 

Brant  was  answered  by  an  American  named 
ColoP'el   Cox.     He  said  something  in  his  speech 

ti  <?>  .,U;.red  the  Indians.  Brant  made  a  signal 
Ic,  ;-':.  \'  a-riors.  They  ran  back  to  camp,  and  re- 
tunitid  aiii  ed.  The  war-whoop  rang  through  the 
air,  and  for  a  moment  there  was  a  great  deal  of 
excitement.     Meantime  Brant  was   soothed.     He 


vil. 


ATTEMPT   TO    KILL   RRANT. 


209 


peremptorily  refused  to  surrender  the  Tories  in 
his  party,  when  this  was  demanded.  He  agreed 
to  meet  Herkimer  again  on  the  following  morning. 

White  men  in  Indian  warfare  often  become  as 
treacherous  as  the  Indians  themselves.  Herkimer 
must  undoubtedly  have  designed  some  attack  on 
Brant,  had  not  the  chief's  force  been  so  great  and 
he  himself  so  guarded  in  his  movements.  He  now 
secretly  planned  with  three  men  to  assassinate 
Brant  in  the  council  of  the  following  day,  at  a 
given  signal.  But  Brant  was  wary.  He  marched 
up  to  General  f  lerkimer  in  the  morning  with  great 
dignity.  ^^ 

"  I  have  five  hundred  warriors  with  me,  armed 
and  ready  for  battle,"  said  he.  "  You  are  in  my 
power  ;  but  as  we  have  been  friends  and  neighbors 
I  will  not  take  the  advantage  of  you."  Brant  gave 
a  signal.  Instantly  five  hundred  Indians  rushed 
out  of  the  woods,  armed,  painted,  and  yelling  the 
war-whoop. 

•*  Now,"  said  Brant,  "  General  Herkimer,  I  ad- 
vise you  to  go  back  to  your  own  home.  I  thank 
you  for  your  civility  in  coming  so  far  to  see  me, 
and  perhaps  some  diiy  I  may  return  the  compli- 
ment. Now  I  will  return  to  my  village,  and  you 
may  rest  assured  that,  for  the  present,  the  Indians 
will  commit  no  hostilities." 


11  \  il 


if 

W 
fi 


%  I 


mm 

ml 


m 


•:-'^    5 


- 


H 


II 


.1 


2IO 


BRANT   AND   RED   JACKKT. 


» 


i 


It  is  needless  to  say  that  Brant  war>  not  assassi- 
nated. Herkimer  promised  to  follow  his  advice, 
and  presented  the  Indians  with  some  cattle,  de- 
siring perhaps  to  occupy  their  thoughts.  They 
fell  upon  the  animals  instantly  and  began  slaugh- 
tering them,  while  Brant  turned  and  walked 
proudly  away.  The  morning  had  been  exceed- 
ingly clear  and  lovely,  but  black  clouds  now 
covered  the  sky  and  a  violent  storm  burst  upon 
the  country. 

Soon  after  this  Brant  and  his  Indians'  removed 
to  Oswego,  where  Sir  John  Johnson  was  concen- 
trating the  Tories  under  his  influence.  Here  the 
Six  Nations  were  again  figuratively  invited  to  eat 
the  flesh  and  drink  the  blood  of  a  Bostonian,  and 
here  a  great  council  was  called.  There  was  at 
this  council  much  display  of  the  tawdry  presents 
which  Indians  value  so  highly.  The  council  was 
called  to  encourage  the  Six  Nations  to  harass  the 
colonists  by  a  border  warfare.  At  the  close  of 
the  council  every  Indian  was  presented  with  a  suit 
of  clothes,  a  brass  kettle,  a  gun,  a  tomahawk,  a 
scalping-knife,  ammunition,  and  a  piece  of  gold. 
Rewards  were  also  offered  for  scalps. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE   FORERUNNERS  OF  A  SIEGE. 

The  rebel  colonies  were  to  be  subjugated  by 
the  campaign  of  1777.  By  the  employment  of 
German  mercenaries  and  of  Indians,  the  king  had 
made  every  effort  to  furnish  a  sufficient  force  for 
this  purpose.  Part  of  the  plan  for  the  year  was 
the  descent  of  General  Burgoyne,  by  way  of  Lake 
Champlain  and  Lake  George,  into  the  heart  of 
the  countr}^  where  he  was  to  make  a  junction 
with  Howe's  forces.  Burgoyne  was  provided 
with  a  large  and  well-trained  army.  He  made  a 
grandiloquent  speech  to  his  Indian  allies,  in  which 
he  said  :  "  Warriors,  you  are  free  ;  go  forth  in  the 
might  of  your  valor  and  of  your  cause  ;  strike  at 
the  common  enemies  of  Great  Britain  and 
America,  disturbers  of  public  order,  peace,  and 
happiness,  destroyers  of  commerce,  parricides  of 
the  state.  .  .  .  Be  it  our  task  to  regulate  your 
passions  when  they  overbear.  1  positively  forbid 
bloodshed  when  you  are  not  opposed  in  arms. 
Aged   men,  women,  children,  and   prisoners  must 


h 


r>i 


>  li 


-. 


.^! 


fX' 


J 


i"*! 


i 


t! 


212 


r.UANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


be  held  sacred  from  the  knife  and  the  hatchet." 
Meantime  the  general  of  the  German  mercenaries, 
Baron  von  Riedesel,  exclaimed,  "  Wretched  colo- 
nics !  if  these  wild  souls  are  indulf^ed  in  war." 

While  the  British  army,  graced  by  the  presence 
of  some  of  the  officers'  ladies,  was  gayly  march- 
ing in  triumphant  progress  toward  the  Hudson, 
Brant  accompanied  a  detachment  under  Colonel 
St.  Leger  to  make  a  diversion  in  the  direction  of 
the  young  chief's  old  home,  the  Mohawk  Valley. 
St.  Leger  was  to  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
Oswego,  where  he  was  to  be  joined  by  the  Indians 
and  Sir  John  Johnson  with  his  regiment  of  loyal- 
ists, known  as  the  Royal  Greens.  From  here,  by 
way  of  Oneida  Lake  and  Wood  Creek,  the  forces 
were  to  march  upon  Fort  Schuyler,  or  Stanwix, 
the  name  by  which  it  is  better  known.  The  fort 
was  to  be  reduced,  and  St.  Leger  was  to  form  a 
junction  with  Burgoyne. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Mohawk  Valley  were  in 
a  deplorable  condition  of  fright  and  discourage- 
ment. The  first  news  that  reached  them  of  the 
coming  invasion  was  brought  by  a  half-breed 
Oneida  Indian,  who  said  he  had  attended  a  council 
of  the  hostile  Indians  held  by  Colonel  Claus. 

"  Ticonderoga  is  mine,"  announced  this  gentle- 
man, in  bravado.     "  This  is  true,  you  may  depend 


'imr^ 


THE  f"()rekunni:rs  ok  a  siegk. 


213 


on  it,  and  not  one  ^un  shall  be  fired.  The  same  is 
true  of  Fort  Scluiyler.  I  am  sure  when  I 
come  before  that  fort,  and  the  commanding 
ofificer  shall  see  me,  he  also  will  not  fire  a  shot,  but 
will  surrender  the  fort  to  me."  Curiously  enoujE^h, 
Burgoyne  had  taken  Ticonderoga  without  a  shot, 
and  this  led  the  Indians  to  believe  in  Colonel 
Claus's  powers  of  prophecy. 

"  Brothers  !"  exclaimed  the  Oneida,  "  now  is  your 
time  to  awake,  and  not  to  sleep  any  longer,  or,  on 
the  contrary,  it  shall  go  with  Fort  Schuyler  as  it 
went  already  with  Ticonderoga.  ...  If  you 
don't  come  soon,  without  delay,  to  assist  this  place, 
we  can't  stay  much  longer  on  your  side ;  for  if 
you  leave  this  fort  without  succor,  and  the  enemy 
shall  get  possession  of  it,  we  shall  suffer  like  you 
in  your  settlements." 

But  the  settlers  were  deeply  dejected,  and  many 
of  them  were  incHned  to  go  over  to  the  British 
side.  John  Jay  said  of  them  at  the  time  that 
their  situation  was  "  both  shameful  and  alarming. 
.  .  .  God  knows  what  to  do  with  or  for  them. 
Were  they  alone  interested  in  their  fate,  I  should 
be  for  leaving  their  cart  in  the  slough  till  they  put 
their  shoulders  to  the  wheel." 

From  time  to  time  parties  of  disaffected  inhab- 
itants   would    steal    away    to    join    the    British. 


i- 


0: 


I 


;■  i  I' 


i 


'ill 


;:i 


1)2 


r|(':! 


I 


Hi 


214 


It  KANT    AND    KKP   JACKKT. 


I      I 

I  ! 


I      i 


Fri};litfiil  rumors  were  ronstaiilly  rcacliin^  the 
sctlltMiUMils.  Men  (laic'd  not  work  in  the  fields 
without  a  conii>;uiy  ol  neii;l)!)ors  to  j^uard  them, 
the  luilian  rava|L;'ers  were  expected  every  (hiy. 
In  the  sprini;;  of  1777  Colonel  Harper,  who  was  ii\ 
command  of  one  of  the  little  neighborhood  forts, 
had  made  a  circuit  throui;h  the  woods  to  llarpcrs- 
(ield.  and  set  out  to  return.  7\s  he  climbed  a  hill  he 
suddenly  saw^  a  band  of  Indians  a|)j)roachini!f.  I  lis 
overcoat  covered  his  uniform,  mid  he  walked  ri^^ht 
up  to  the  Indians.  He  recoi^^nized  amonjj;'  them  a 
Mohawk  of  his  acquaintance,  but  fortunately  they 
did  not  know  him.  He  saluted  them  in  the 
usual  manner,  and  ij^ave  them  the  impression  by 
his  conversation  that  he  was  a  loyalist.  They  in- 
formed him  that  they  were  on  their  way  to  cut  off 
a  small  settlement  upon  the  Susquehanna.  When 
out  of  their  sight,  the  Colonel  returned  to  Harpers- 
field  in  all  haste.  Here  he  collected  a  band  of 
fifteen  brave  men  accustomed  to  border  life.  Each 
man  provided  himself  with  two  days'  provisions 
and  a  rope.  They  then  w^ent  in  pursuit  of  the  In- 
dians. That  same  night,  as  they  stole  along  through 
the  woods,  they  saw  their  camp-fire.  The  white 
men  halted  and  waited.  Toward  morning,  when 
the  Indians  were  in  their  soundest  sleep,  Harper 
and  his  men  crept  up.     The  Indians  had  stacked 


Till',    lOUKkUNNl'.KS    OK    A    SIK*;!;, 


215 


tlicirarins  in  llic  centre  of  tlu- ciu  anijinu'nt.  The 
while  men  lirst  (|Mielly  removed  these.  I^aeh  man 
chose  his  liuhan,  and  at  a  ^ivefi  sij^iial  every  In- 
dian was  grasped  and  b(jund  before  he  was  fairly 
awake. 

"  Ufj^h  !  Colonel  I  larger !"  (^xclaitned  the  Mo- 
hawk, as  dayli;^ht  appeared,  "  why  didn't.  1  know 
yon  yesterday  ?" 

Fort  Stanwix,  in  tlie  snmmer  of  1777,  was  in  a 
l)ad  condition  to  withstand  attack.  It  had  /^one 
to  decay,  the  ditch  snrroundini^  it  was  tilled  nj), 
and  it  was  poorly  <^arris(..)e(l.  Colonel  I'eter 
(iansevoort,  who  was  j)laced  in  command,  did  his 
best  in  the  short  time  remaining  to  strengthen  the 
defences.  Those  of  the  jj;-arrison  who  were  not 
sick  from  destitution  were  kept  constantly  at 
work.  Meantime  it  became  daily  more  difficult 
to  do  any  work  outside  of  the  fort,  on  account  of 
lurkinj^  parties  of  Indians.  Of  some  soldiers  at 
work  within  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  f(jrt, 
one  was  killed  and  mangled,  two  wounded,  and  six 
missing.  Meanwhile  there  were  only  provisions 
enough  in  the  fort  to  last  about  six  weeks,  and  the 
garrison  was  in  want  of  ammunition.  Prowling 
parties  of  Indians  were  more  and  more  infesting 
the  neighborhood.  One  day  the  air  was  filled 
with  clouds  of  pigeons.     Two  men,  Captain  Gregg 


I  !    ' 


i\<^ 


nUAM    ANP  uin   |\<  Kir. 


r\\\i\  {\\v\'>\SM\\  Mi\tlisou,  ron(iin\  lo  ohIimm,  unit, 
out  to  lunU  m  ihr  ihM^hlMMiM))  wimuIm.  Thr\  wi'li' 
]>oth  shot  «lo\\n,  :M)ii  iustanll\  tlic  linliiiim  i  imlir<l 
wyxm  \\\vn\  to  t;>ko  thri»  srnlps,  (';>|»t;»in  l«H'f^K 
ha»l  hcvw  shot  thn>\iti,h  thr  hni  k,  ;nul  wim  Htill 
alive  \\  \tl\  i\\V',\{  pu'srnt't' ol  min<l  hr  putnulrd 
to  Uv  y\\\\y\.  i\\\k\  \\\\v\vy\  no  jMonn  ilniin^  llu' 
p;nnl\il  oiHi;\tion  ol  scMlpin^.  \Vh(M»  (he  IiwHohm 
\vm\  ^vono  ht'  rropt  to  tlu'  <lr;hl  ior|>oral  ami  laid 
bis  hoail  upon  Ins  liion^l's  boily.  Captain  (mc^^'h 
vlv^j;,  \vh\)  was  with  hi«n.  now  «an  to  a  plait'  whcic 
two  nuM^  w<M(^  tishin|;>,  Hv  his  iniplotin^;  a«ti«MiH 
ho  attrai'toil  tlun  attintion.  anti  I(mI  thrni  to  his 
master.  'V\\c  hslua  nion  in\n\(Mliatrlv  hnnicd  to 
the  iv>it  with  tlu>  tunvs,  an<l  a  pattv  ol  soMiciH 
i\in\t^  to  (^iVii'iiV  voliol.  His  winnuls  wvvv  very 
tlani;vi\nis,  but  ho  Imallv  rorovorod  hom  tlx  in. 

Aj^ain,  as  CohnuM  Willot  was  taking  his  noon- 
day rest,  ho  was  ono  k\,\\  slartK^I  by  tlu^  report  ol 
musko1r\.  \\c  haston(ul  to  tlio  patapot,;nul  saw  a 
bttlo  i;ir].  with  a  bask(^t  on  hor  aim,  innnin^ 
toward  tho  t\Mt,  whilo  tho  blood  trioklod  down  the 
b^^S(^nl  ol  hor  dross.  vSlio  had  boon  ont  ])iokin^ 
IxMTios  with  twt>  othor  i;iils.  rhov  had  boon  lirod  i 
ii]>i^n  bv  Si>mo  bubans,  and  two  oi  thorn  wore 
killoii  The  child  who  escaped  was  but  slightly 
\>'oinHied. 


THK    I'HMKkl/NNKUM   « M'    A    y^lV.dV.. 


t\1 


\\\^  hU'^tc        I'mi  ((iiiiilrlv,  \ii\'tt(    1 1  wim  f'»f»    lih    f  /  (M 
foriXMiiciiJM  (il  IWM  IhiimIm'I  Jiimi  itrnvrfl,  wilfi  fvvo 
lilltriMix  nf    pioviMinMM  ;mmI    ittririiiinilioh       WiMi   mII 
hiiMlr  IIh'  IkuiIm  wtf  iMilojiJrfl,      A4  fhf  hisf  of  (li/- 
liMliiijr    rc'fK  IimI    flir    («»il,    flir    lioqfilf    (fMli;ifm   H|i- 

|K>ill(M|  (ll    lll«'  Vi\^r()  n(    (llf   VVnO'l'i  Jlfl')    mil  (f('<U(\   ifi 

cnpluiifif;  flir  nipliiid  <i\  llif  l»o;il.  Ifc  j(;irri^ofi 
iMiw  (nimhMl  scvni  liuii»l»''l  ;i(i'l  liffy  'rKfi. 
riicy  li.'ul  pKiviHioiiM  MiM(i((li  lor  mx  wr(;)<s,  fxif 
ihcy  wore  very  hum  h  m  vv;iiif  ol  arnniiiniliofi  for 
llic  <iimi(Mi.  VV'M'il  of  ;ill  III  flifii  ryes,  flicy  hud 
iiol  ji  fliiji  Willi  wliif  ll  Jo  liifl  dcfiaficc  lo  (lie  army 
now  Im'Ioic  (he  walls  ol  Ihr  fori,  llw  Ko\(]'io.r% 
Hai:i-ili(.('«l,  liowcvrr,  llicir  wliilf  sIimIs  to  thf;  < mi^', ■ 
a  liliic  (ainlcl  cloak,  (aiiliirc^l  froiri  tfic  i-ncniy, 
wan  Hlii|)|H'd  up,  vvliilct  various  orMs  ariH  rnfh  of 
red  were  added,  and  a  |)icccd  uj;  flag  y^on  waved 
l^ailanlly  ovcj  I  lie  furl.. 


I 


f 


i  ( 


'•  i 


ft  1' 


i     .! 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE   SIECE  OF  FORT  STANWIX. 

St.  Leger  set  out  from  Oswego  with  an  army 
of  seventeen  hundred  men,  including  Brant's  In- 
dians. In  advance  of  the  main  army  marched  five 
columns  of  Indians  in  single  file.  Back  of  these 
were  Indians  walking  ten  paces  apart,  and  forming 
a  line  of  communication  with  the  advance-guard 
of  the  army.  This,  in  turn,  was  a  hundred  paces 
ahead  of  the  main  line.  A  hundred  paces  from 
the  right  and  left  flanks  moved  large  guards  of 
Indians,  while  the  rear-guard  was  of  regular 
troops.  In  addition  to  these  precautions  a  small 
detachment  of  soldiers  and  Indians,  under  Lieuten- 
ant Bird,  were  sent  a  day  or  two  in  advance  of  the 
army.  From  this  lieutenant's  diary  we  learn  that 
he  had  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  the  Indians, 
who  are  always  the  most  independent  of  soldiers. 
For  instance,  on  Tuesday  he  marched  two  miles, 
and  no  Indians  coming  up,  he  halted.  After  two 
hours,  sixteen  Senecas  appeared.  He  moved  on 
and  waited  again,  when  seventy  or  eighty  more 
Indians  came  up. 


mmm 


THE   SIEGE   OF  FORT  STANWTX. 


219 


Bird  suggested  marching  forward,  but  they  had 
st(»len  two  oxen  from  the  drove  of  the  main  army 
and  must  stop  to  feast  on  them.  On  Wednesday 
morning  he  waited  till  six  for  the  Indians,  but  they 
did  not  come  ;  so  he  set  off  without  them.  Thurs- 
day a  number  of  savages  were  again  with  Lieuten- 
ant Bird.  On  Friday  they  decHned  to  proceed 
farther.  Bird  called  a  council  of  the  chiefs  and 
told  them  that  he  was  ordered  to  go  near  the  fort, 
and  if  they  would  not  go  with  him  he  and  his  men 
would  go  without  them.  Some  of  the  Indians 
consented  to  go,  but  the  Senecas  grumbled  that 
Lieutenant  Bird  had  promised  to  take  their  advice. 
That  officer  answered  that  he  had  meant  to  fol- 
low their  advice  only  as  to  fighting  in  the  woods, 
and  that  he  aad  told  them  before  that  his  plans 
were  to  invest  the  fort  and  prevent  the  Americans 
from  building  any  obstruction  in  Wood  Creek. 
He  said,  however,  as  he  had  promised  to  be  ad- 
vised by  them,  that  he  would  wait  till  morning 
and  then  certainly  they  would  march.  They 
seemed  to  assent  to  this,  but  they  in  reality,  like 
most  Indians,  stood  in  dread  of  the  guns  of  the 
fort.  On  the  following  morning  they  absolutely 
refused  to  move,  with  the  exception  of  a  Mohawk 
and  one  other  Indian.  Bird  stated  the  case  in  a  let- 
ter to  his  commanding  officer,  and  expressed  his 


f:( 


220 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


1 


!       iJ 


willingness  to  invest  the  fort  at  any  rate.  St.  Leger 
answered  ordering  him  to  do  so ;  and  detached 
Brant  and  his  forces  to  aid  in  the  investment.  He 
also  instructed  Bird  that,  in  case  the  enemy 
should  wish  to  surrender,  the  lieutenant  was  ndt 
to  conclude  matters,  but  to  tell  them  that  he  was 
sure  his  commander  would  listen  favorably  to  such 
overtures.  "This,"  he  said,  "is  not  to  take  any 
honor  out  of  a  young  soldier's  hands,  but,  by  the 
presence  of  the  troops,  to  prevent  the  barbarity 
and  carnage  which  will  ever  obtain  where  Indians 
make  so  superior  a  part  of  a  detachment." 

Brant  and  Lieutenant  Bird  made  the  investment 
just  as  the  garrison  had  secured  the  additional 
provisions  as  we  have  seen.  The  main  army  came 
up  on  the  following  day.  A  flag  was  immediately 
sent  to  the  fort  with  high-sounding  proclama- 
tions, a  kind  of  harmless  artillery  with  which  offi- 
cers sometimes  try  to  frighten  a  garrison  into 
submission.  It  produced  no  effect,  however,  on 
the  men  in  Fort  Stanwix,  and  the  siege  was  imme- 
diately begun. 

Every  stump  and  shrub  was  alive  with  Indians. 
The  men  who  were  employed  in  raising  the  para- 
pets were  much  annoyed  by  their  fire.  Sharp- 
shooters took  every  opportunity  to  return  it.  The 
next  day  the  enemy  fired  shells  into  the  fort,  and 


THE    SIEGE    OF    FORT   STANWIX. 


221 


on  the  following  evening  Brant's  Indians,  number- 
ing about  a  thousand,  sppead  themselves  in  the 
woods  encircling  the  fort,  and  kept  up  a  most 
frighful  yelling  during  the  main  part  of  the  night. 
This  probably  was  for  the  same  purpose  as  St. 
Leger's  proclamation. 

Meantime  no  sooner  was  the  dreaded  army 
really  upon  them  than  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley  began  to  find  courage.  General  Her- 
kimer summoned  the  militia,  who  responded 
nobly,  and  set  out  to  assist  the  garrison  at  the 
fort.  He  marched  to  Oriskany.  From  here  he 
sent  an  express  to  Colonel  Gansevoort  announc- 
ing his  approach.  General  Herkimer  now  began 
to  have  misgivings  as  to  whether  he  ought  to  ad- 
vance farther  without  reinforcement.  In  a  consul- 
tation some  of  the  officers,  impatient  to  proceed, 
used  high  words,  and  called  their  general  a  Tory 
and  a  coward.  The  old  man  calmly  answered 
that  he  considered  himself  placed  over  them  as  a 
father,  and  that  he  did  not  wish  to  lead  them 
into  trouble  which  he  could  not  get  them  out  of. 
He  predicted  that  they  would  be  ready  to  run 
when  they  should  see  the  enemy.  The  officers 
persisted,  however,  and  Herkimer  at  last  became 
irritated,  and  cried  "  March  on !"  His  troops  gave 
a  shout  Qf  joy  and  rushed  forward. 


! 


:'■■ 


i 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE   BATTLE   OF   ORISKANY. 

The  eager  troo^ys  h  ■  '^oved  forward  but  two 
ni'les,  when  the  guards  uoth  in  the  front  and  on 
tb^  flanks  were  shol  lown.  They  were  in  the 
midst  of  an  ambuscade.  Si.  Le^cr,  hearing  of 
Herkimer's  advance,  had  sent  Brant  with  a  large 
body  of  Indians,  accompanied  by  some  of  the 
Royal  Greens  and  rangers,  to  prevent  an  attack 
in  the  trenches.  Brant  had  chosen  his  position 
where  the  road  crossed  a  marshy  ravine  over  a 
causewa}^  On  the  high  land  above  the  ravine 
Brant  laid  his  ambuscade  in  a  circular  form,  leav- 
ing but  a  small  opening  to  admit  the  hostile  forces. 
Thus,  at  the  first  fire,  Herkimer's  whole  army, 
with  the  exception  of  the  rear-guard,  was  inclosed 
in  the  trap,  and  the  Indians  immediately  completed 
the  circle.  The  baggage  and  ammunition  wagons 
with  the  rear-guard  were  thus  cut  off  and  left  in 
the  ravine.  Overpowered  by  numbers  of  hidden 
Indians,  with  their  hideous  war-whoop,  the  rear- 
guard fled,  as  their  general  had  predicted.     They 


!    i 


I 


THE    nATTI-E    OF   (MIISKANY. 


223 


were  pursued  by  some  of  the  Indians,  and  suffered 
most  severely. 

But  there  was  no  flight  for  those  within  the  cir- 
cle. They  were  thrown  into  hopeless  confusion 
at  the  suddenness  of  the  attack.  The  Indians  fired 
with  unerring  aim  from  behind  trees,  and  it  seemed 
that  the  Americans  would  be  entirely  destroyed. 
When  an  American  had  fired  and  before  he  had 
time  to  reload  his  gun,  an  Indian  would  rush  upon 
him  with  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife.  Many 
hand-to-hand  conflicts  ensued,  and  sometimes  both 
Indian  and  white  man  died  in  a  death-grapple. 
General  Herkimer's  leg  was  shattered  by  a  ball, 
but  seated  on  his  saddle,  and  leaning  against  the 
trunk  of  a  tree,  he  continued  to  command  his 
men,  who  dropped  dead  about  him  on  every  side. 
The  battle  had  lasted  forty-five  minutes,  when  the 
cool  old  general  succeeded  in  restoring  some  kind 
of  order.  The  fatal  Indian  circle  was  gradually 
closing  in  upon  the  Americans,  who  formed  them- 
selves into  circles  that  they  might  repel  the  attacks 
of  the  enemy  from  all  sides.  The  resistance  of 
the  Americans  was  now  more  effective.  For  a 
short  time  the  firing  almost  ceased ;  then  the  en- 
emy charged  with  the  bayonet.  At  the  crossing 
of  bayonets  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  began.  Man 
to  man  the  royalists  and  Americans  fought.     Her- 


*■' 


i  1 


\\ 


In 


w 


■i 


:::h 


224 


PRANT   AND   RED   JACKET. 


kimer's  forces  withstood  the  charge  bravely;  the 
enemy  seemed  to  waver,  when  suddenly  a  storm, 
which  had  come  up  unnoticed  by  the  struggling 
combatants,  broke  upon  them  with  tropical  fury. 
The  enemy,  who  had  sufTered  severe  loss  as  well 
as  the  surrounded  Americans,  retired  to  seek  such 
shelter  as  they  could  find. 

The  storm  lasted  for  about  an  hour,  and  the 
Americans  took  advantage  of  it  to  take  a  more  ad- 
vantageous position,  and  there  to  form  themselves 
into  a  circle,  sheltered,  after  the  mode  of  border 
warfare,  behind  trees.  The  Indians  had  hereto- 
fore considered  themselves  safe  in  attacking  with 
the  tomahawk  a  man  who  had  just  fired.  The 
Americans  now  prepared  themselves  for  this 
style  of  warfare,  placing  two  men  behind  every 
tree,  one  man  firing  at  a  time,  and  the  other  re- 
serving his  fire  for  the  defence  of  his  companion 
until  the  latter  had  reloaded.  They  stood  thus, 
awaiting  attack  as  the  shower  cleared  away. 
Whe;i  the  fighing  was  again  renewed  the  Ameri- 
cans, under  their  new  arrangement,  succeeded  in 
making  the  Indians  suffer  severely.  The  latter 
were  about  to  give  way,  when  Major  Watts  ap- 
peared upon  the  scene  with  a  fresh  detachment  of 
Johnson's  Greens.  As  the  royalists  advanced  upon 
the  American  militia,  neighbor  recognized  neigh- 


THE    BATTLE    OF   ORISKANV. 


225 


bor,  and,  with  the  bitter  hatred  of  civil  warfare, 
the  battle  was  waged  the  more  fiercely.  The 
Americans  fired  upon  the  Greens  as  they  came 
up,  and  then,  with  uncontrollable  ferocity,  sprang 
from  the  sheltering  trees  and  attacked  them  with 
their  bayonets  and  the  butts  of  their  muskets. 
The  contest  grew  even  closer,  and  militiamen  and 
royalists  throttled  and  stabbed  one  another,  often 
dying  in  each  other's  embrace.  General  Herkimer 
was  still  seated  upon  his  saddle  upon  a  little  hil- 
lock, that  he  might  the  better  command  his  forces. 
He  was  advised  to  take  a  less  exposed  position. 

**  No,"  said  the  brave  old  man,  "  I  will  face  the 
enemy,"  and  he  continued  to  give  his  orders,  at 
the  same  time  coolly  taking  out  his  tinder-box 
and  lighting  hi:  pipe. 

While  this  fierce  conflict  was  raging,  a  ruse  was 
attempted  on  the  English  side  which  came  near 
deciding  the  battle.  A  detachment  of  the  Greens 
was  suddenly  sent  from  the  direction  of  the  fort, 
disguised  as  Americans.  Lieutenant  Sammons 
first  saw  them,  approaching  in  the  direction  of  a 
body  of  men  commanded  by  Captain  Gardenier. 

"Gardenier,  here  comes  help  from  the  fort," 
called  out  Sammons. 

"  Not  so  ;  they  are  enemies.  Don't  you  see  their 
green  coats?"  answered   the  quick-eyed  captain, 


\r 


s;i 


<  \ 

1 

•1 

i 

•i      : 

li 

»^    ■ 

i  • 

'1 

!■ 

1 

- 

1: 

i" 

»t     • 

! 

M 

i' 

I't'Mt 

1.  ; 

it: 

^ 

^'v 

!'  ■*         •" 

;'  \ 

j?  • 

(,• 

t26 


URANT  AND  RED  JACKET. 


The  men  continued  to  advance  upon  the  doubtful 
Americans.  Gardenier  hailed  them.  Just  at  this 
moment  one  of  Gardenicr's  men,  recognizing  an 
old  friend  in  the  approaching  line,  rushed  forward 
to  meet  him,  holding  out  his  hand. 

"  You  are  a  prisoner,"  he  was  told  ;  at  the  same 
\  time  his  hand  was  caught  with  no  friendly  grasp, 
and  he  was  dragged  into  the  line  of  the  disguised 
enemy. 

Gardenier  had  watched  for  the  result,  and  he 
now  sprang  forward,  and,  striking  down  the  cap- 
tor with  his  spear,  released  his  struggling  man. 
Two  of  the  enemy  instantly  sprang  upon  Garde- 
nier. He  killed  one  and  wounded  the  other. 
Three  more  rushed  at  him.  His  spur  became 
entangled  in  their  clothes  and  he  was  thrown  to 
the  ground.  Two  of  the  royalists  pinned  him 
there,  running  their  spears  through  his  thighs. 
The  third  presented  his  spear  to  Gardenier's 
breast  to  finish  the  work.  The  captain,  however, 
grasped  the  spear  with  his  hand,  and,  with  a  sud- 
den wrench,  brought  the  owner  down  upon  him- 
self. Here  he  hugged  him  close,  as  a  protection 
against  his  assailants.  One  of  his  men  now  flew  to 
his  assistance,  and,  as  the  two  royalists  turned 
their  spears  upon  him,  Gardenier  rose  to  a  sitting 
posture,  still  holding;   his  man,  and   snatched  his 


THE   DATTLE   OF  ORISKANY. 


227 


own  spear  with  the  hand  with  which  he  had 
grasped  that  of  the  enemy,  and  which  was  severely 
cut  by  the  spear  being  drawn  through  it.  In  an 
instant  he  ran  it  into  the  man  he  held,  who  was  a 
loyalist  officer,  and  killed  him.  The  whole  strug- 
gle had  been  almost  instantaneous. 

"  For  God's  sake,  captain,  you  are  killing  our 
own  men  !"  shouted  one  of  the  Americans. 

"  They  are  not  our  men,  they  are  the  enemy. 
Fire  away  !"  cried  Gardenier. 

The  Americans  obeyed,  and,  under  a  deadly 
fire,  about  thirty  of  the  greens  and  many  Indians 
fell  dead.  The  battle  was  once  more  hand  to 
hand,  the  combatants  rushing  upon  one  another 
with  the  bayonet.  The  Americans  were  inspired 
by  the  quickness  and  courage  of  Gardenier.  At 
one  time  three  of  the  loyalists  rushed  within  the 
American  circle  and  tried  to  make  a  prisoner  of 
Captain  Dillenback,  who  had  declared  he  would 
never  be  taken  alive.  One  of  the  three  loyalists 
seized  his  gun,  but  the  captain  wrenched  it  from 
him  and  struck  him  down  with  the  butt.  lie 
turned  upon  the  second  man  and  shot  him  dead, 
and  in  an  instant  more  he  had  thrust  the  third 
through  w^ith  his  bayonet.  Hardly  had  he  accom- 
plished this  feat  when  a  musket-ball  killed  him. 

Brant's  Indians  had  suffered  much  more  severely 


& 


,'     I 


II 


n 


V 
.    I' 


IL. 


- '   I 


;i' 


ii 


I; 


if 


238 


15UANT   AND    RKD   JACKET. 


than  they  usually  suffer  in  their  kind  of  warfare. 
Tiieir  attack  had  been  persistent  and  brive,  but 
many  of  their  chiefs  were  dead,  and  the  Ameri- 
cans held  out  with  incredible  stubbornness.  The 
Indians  at  last  raised  the  retreating  cry  of 
"  Donah  !"  and  fled  amid  the  triumphant  shout  of 
the  surviving  militiamen. 

Meantime  a  sally  from  the  fort  had  been  made 
under  Colonel  Willet  immediately  after  the  rain, 
and  this  now  drew  off  the  loyalist  forces.  Colonel 
Willet  had  made  his  movements  with  the  utmost 
rapidity,  driving  in  the  enemy's  sentinels  and 
attacking  the  advance-guard.  Sir  John  Johnson, 
who  was  in  his  tent  with  his  coat  ofT,  had  not  time 
to  [Hit  it  on,  but  was  obliged  instantly  to  retreat, 
being  unable  to  bring  his  troops  into  order. 
Colonel  Willet  took  possession  of  Johnson's  camp 
and  the  Indian  camp  in  succession.  The  spoil 
was  instantly  drawn  to  the  fort  in  seven  large 
wagon-loads.  Among  the  other  things,  five  British 
standards  and  all  of  Sir  John  Johnson's  [>apers, 
containing  valuable  inforn^'tion  for  the  garrison, 
were  captured.  When  Colonel  Willet  returned 
toward  the  fort.  Colonel  St.  Leger,  who  was  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  tried  to  intercept 
him.  Willet  immediately  formed  his  troops,  and 
gave  the  enemy  a  full  fire  in  front.    Tlicir  returned 


W 


'  I 


THE    MATT  I, K   OF   ORISKANY. 


229 


fire  was  so  wild  as  to  be  harmless,  and  tlie  Ameri- 
can forces  returned  to  the  fort  without  the  h)ss  of 
a  man.  The  captured  British  Hags  were  hoisted 
under  tiie  home-made  American  one,  and  the  men 
ascended  the  parapets  and  gave  three  hearty 
cheers. 

But  the  h)ss  on  the  main  battle-field  was  severe 
enough  on  both  sides.  The  British  claimed  it  as 
a  victory,  but  the  Americans  remained  in  posses- 
sion of  the  field.  They  were  busied  maklig  litters 
upon  which  to  carry  off  the  wounded.  As  they 
were  placing  General  Herkimer  upon  one  of  these, 
three  Indians  approached  and  were  instantly  shot 
down  by  the  riflemen.  These  were  the  last  shots 
of  the  battle.  Major  Watts  was  left  on  the  field 
by  the  loyalists,  supposed  to  be  dead.  He  fainted 
from  loss  of  blood,  but  reviving,  he  succeeded  in 
crawling  to  a  brook,  where  he  satisfied  his  thirst, 
and  in  two  or  three  days  was  found  by  some  In- 
dians and  carried  to  St.  Lcger's  camp. 

"  I  beheld  the  most  shocking  sight  I  ever  wit- 
nessed," said  an  American  scout  who  returned 
from  a  distant  errand  some  days  after  and  crossed 
the  battle-field.  "The  Indians  and  white  men 
were  mingled  with  one  another,  just  as  they  had 
been    left   when   Death   had   first  completed   his 


work." 


i 


I 


:'        |) 


•■  ii 


il 
■■I 


m 


■■      4; 


1; 

t 


<, 


HI 
'I  J 


230 


BRANT  AND  RED  JACKET. 


The  Tndiiins  were  almost  inconsolable  for  their 
severe  loss.  When  they  returned  to  their  villages 
great  was  the  mourning  expressed  by  shrieking 
and  howling  over  the  slain.  Brant  often  spoke 
sadly  in  after-life  of  the  sufferings  of  his  "  poor 
Mohawks"  in  this  battle.  The  loss  of  a  hundred 
men  meant  much  more  to  the  thin  and  fast-dimin- 
ishing population  of  the  Six  Nations  than  it  did  to 
the  thickly-settled  whites. 

General  Ilerkimxr  did  not  long  survive  the  bat- 
tle. Mis  leg  was  amputated,  but  the  blood  could 
not  be  stanched,  and  the  brave  old  soldier  read 
tlie  thirty-eighth  psalm  to  those  who  surrounded 
his  bed,  and  soon  afterwards  died. 


li!  1' 


s^fciM»*«*s«?»«r»««'"''' 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

HOW  A   SIMPLETON   RAISED   THE   SIEGE. 

In  a  communication  to  the  bcsicg-cd  garrison, 
St.  Leger  represented  the  result  oi  the  battle  of 
Oriskany  as  favorably  for  the  English  side  as  pos- 
sible. Along  with  this  letter  he  sent  a  verbal  de- 
mand to  surrender. 

"  I  will  answer  no  verbal  summons  but  at  the 
mouth  of  the  cannon,  unless  delivered  by  Colonel 
St.  Leger  himself,"  said  Colonel  Gansevo(jrt  to  the 
messenger. 

Next  day  a  white  flag  approached  the  iort  with 
a  request  from  its  bearer  that  Colonel  Butler,  a 
loyalist  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  and  two  other  offi- 
cers might  be  admitted  to  the  fort  with  a  message. 
Consent  was  given,  and  the  messengers  were  blind- 
folded and  conducted  within  the  fort  to  Colonel 
Gansevoort's  dining-room,  where  the  blinds  were 
closed,  candles  lighted,  and  the  table  spread  with 
refreshments.  The  room  was  filled  with  American 
officers.  The  bandages  were  remoNed  from  the 
messengers'  eyes,  and  wine  was  passetl. 


■  lit,-:,  i 


: 


if 


,- 
■ft 

*\ 


'■i 


\  f 


1;' 


U 


*l' 


U 

I 


lli 


n 


I 

!  < 


232 


BRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


"  I  am  directed  by  Colonel  St.  Leger,  the  officer 
commanding  the  army  now  investing  this  garri- 
son," began  one  of  the  messengers,  Major  Ancrom, 
"  to  inform  the  commandant  that  the  colonel  has 
with  much  difficulty  prevailed  upon  the  Indians  to 
agree  that  if  the  garrison,  without  further  resist- 
ance, shall  be  delivered  up,  with  the  public  stores 
belonging  to  it,  to  the  investing  army,  the  officers 
and  soldiers  shall  have  all  their  baggage  and  pri- 
vate property  secured  to  them.  And  in -t5fder  that 
the  garrison  may  have  a  sufficient  pledge  to  this 
effect,  Colonel  Butler  accompanies  me  to  assure 
them  that  not  a  hair  of  the  head  of  any  one  of 
them  shall  be  hurt.  That,  I  think,  was  the  expres- 
sion made  use  ol,  was  it  not  ?"  turning  to  Colonel 
Butler. 

''  Yes,"  was  the  answer. 

''  I  am  likewise  directed  to  remind  the  com- 
mandant that  the  deto>it  of  General  Herkimer  must 
deprive  the  garrison  of  all  hopes  of  relief,  espe- 
cially as  General  Burgoyne  is  now  in  Albany ;  so 
that  sooner  or  later  the  fort  must  fall  into  our 
hands.  .  ,  .  Should,  then,  the  present  terms  be 
rejected,  it  will  be  out  of  the  power  of  the  colonel 
to  restrain  the  Indians,  who  are  very  numerous 
and  exasperated,  not  only  from  plundering  the 
property,  but  from  destroying  the  lives,  probably, 


-'<aifci 


HOW   A   SIMPLETON    RAISED   THE   SIEGE.      233 


of  the  greater  part  of  the  garrison.  Indeed  the 
Indians  are  so  exceedingly  provoked  and  mortified 
by  the  losses  they  have  sustained  in  the  late  ac- 
tions, having  had  several  of  their  favorite  chiefs 
killed,  that  they  threaten — and  the  colonel,  if  the 
present  arrangements  should  not  be  entered  into, 
will  not  be  able  to  prevent  them  from  executing 
their  threats — to  march  down  the  country  and  de- 
stroy the  settlement  and  its  inhabitants.  In  this 
case,  not  only  mei.  but  women  and  children  will  ex- 
perience the  sad  effects  of  their  vengeance.  These 
considerations,  it  is  ardently  hoped,  will  produce  a 
proper  effect  and  induce  the  commandant,  by  com- 
plying with  the  terms  now  offered,  to  save  himself 
from  future  regret  when  it  is  too  late." 

"Do  I  understand  you,  sir?"  answered  Colonel 
Willett,  hotly.  "  I  think  you  say  that  you  come 
from  a  British  colonel,  who  is  commander  of  the 
army  that  invests  this  fort ;  and  by  your  uniform, 
you  seem  to  be  an  officer  in  the  British  service. 
You  have  made  a  long  speech  on  the  occasion  of 
your  visit,  which,  stripped  of  all  its  superfluities, 
amounts  to  this :  that  you  come  from  a  British  col- 
onel to  the  commander  of  this  garrison  to  tell  him 
that  if  he  does  not  deliver  up  the  garrison  into  the 
hands  of  your  colonel,  he  will  send  his  Indians  to 
murder  our  women  and  children.    You  will  please 


m 


11  ! 


mm 


ii 


mw 


I  ill 

!     |{ 


m\ 


234 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


to  reflect,  sir,  that  their  blood  will  be  on  your 
heads,  not  on  ours.  We  are  doing  our  duty,  this 
garrison  is  committed  to  our  charge,  and  wc  will 
take  care  of  it.  After  you  get  out  of  it,  you  may 
turn  round  and  look  at  its  outside,  but  never  ex- 
pect to  come  in  again,  unless  you  come  as  a  pris- 
oner. I  consider  the  message  you  have  brought  a 
degrading  one  for  a  British  officer  to  send,  and  by 
no  means  reputable  for  a  British  officer  to  carry. 
For  my  own  part,  I  declare,  before  I  would  con- 
sent to  deliver  this  garrison  to  such  a  murdering 
set  as  your  army,  by  your  own  account,  consists  of, 
I  would  suffer  my  body  to  be  filled  with  splinters 
and  set  on  fire,  as  you  know  has  at  times  been 
practised  by  such  hordes  of  women-and-children- 
killers  as  belong  to  your  army." 

The  American  officers  received  this  speech  with 
applause.  This  was  all  the  answer  the  British 
officers  could  get  to  their  demand  for  a  surrender. 
Colonel  Gansevoort  agreed,  however,  to  the  pro- 
posal of  a  three  days'  armistice  —  his  ammuni- 
tion being  scarce.  The  besieging  army  now 
issued  an  appeal  to  the  inhabitants  signed  by 
their  old  influential  neighbors,  Sir  John  John- 
son, Colonel  Claus  and  Colonel  Butler.  This 
was  very  much  the  same  as  Major  Ancrom's 
speech :  the  settlers  were  promised  favor  in  case 


HOW    A   SIMPLETON    RAISED   THE   SIEGE.      235 


of  submission,  threatened  with  destruction  by  the 
Indians  if  they  did  not  submit,  and  advised  to  em- 
ploy every  means  to  overcome  the  "  muHsh  ob- 
stinacy" of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Stanwix.  Mes- 
sengers were  sent  through  the  neighboring  coun- 
try with  this  paper. 

Meantime  the  situation  of  the  garrison  was  in- 
deed becoming  desperate  in  spite  of  their  brave 
refusal  to  surrender.  The  British  artillery  was 
not  heavy  enough  to  make  much  impression  on 
the  defences,  but  the  provisions  within  the  fort 
would  not  last  much  longer.  Colonel  Willett  was 
very  popular  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
boring settlements  of  Tryon  County,  and  it  was 
thought  that  if  he  showed  himself  among  the  mil- 
itia he  might  still  rally  a  force  large  enough  to 
raise  the  siege.  The  brave  officer  determined  to 
attempt  to  pass  the  enemy's  lines,  and  to  make  his 
way  some  forty  or  fifty  miles  through  marsh  and 
woods  infested  with  Indians  to  the  settlements. 
Taking  with  him  Major  Stockwell,  Willett  pre- 
pared for  the  daring  attempt.  They  dressed 
themselves  as  lightly  as  possible.  For  weapons 
they  each  took  a  spear,  for  provisions  some  crack- 
ers and  cheese,  and  a  canteen  of  spirits.  At  ten 
o'clock  at  night  they  left  the  sally-port,  and  were 
lost  to  the  eyes  of  the  anxious  garrison. 


r5' 


i  i!  ; 


I'^i  . 


236 


I5RANT  AND    RED   JACKET. 


Meantime  Colonel  St.  Lcger  pushed  the  siege 
vigorously.  He  began  to  approach  the  fort  by- 
sap,  digging  trenches  which  protected  his  men 
and  came  every  day  nearer  to  the  works.  As  the 
trenches  neared  the  defences,  the  garrison  suc- 
ceeded in  annoying  the  enemy  a  great  deal.  Still, 
when  the  mining  had  approached  to  within  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  yards  of  the  fort,  they  began  to 
grow  uneasy.  All  this  time  they  knew  nothing  of 
the  fate  of  Colonel  Willett  and  his  companion. 
Their  provisions  were  fast  going,  and  there  be- 
gan to  be  whispers  among  the  soldiers  that  it 
would  be  better  to  surrender  and  save  the  garri- 
son from  another  Fort  William  Henry  tragedy. 
But  their  commander  was  firm  in  his  determina- 
tion. Colonel  Ganscvoort  knew  well  that  in  any 
case  the  exasperated  Indians  were  not  to  be 
trusted  with  defenceless  prisoners.  He  resolved 
that  if  the  worst  came  to  the  worst,  no  assistance 
arrived  and  provisions  were  exhausted,  he  would 
make  a  night  sally  and  attempt  to  cut  his  way 
through  the  enemy's  lines. 

Meantime  the  bold  officers  who  had  gone  for 
reinforcements,  issuing  from  the  sally-port,  crept 
on  their  hands  and  knees  along  the  edge  of  a 
marsh  to  the  river.  They  crawled  over  this  upon 
a  log.     They  passed  very  near  the  enemy's  sen- 


HOW   A   SIMPLETON    RAISED   THE   SIEGE.      237 

tinel,  but  succeeded  in  getting  by  unseen.  They 
next  entered  the  forest,  where  they  lost  their  way 
in  the  darkness.  After  groping  a  time  they  heard 
the  barking  of  a  dog.  They  were  now  really  in 
danger,  for  this  announced  the  neighborhood  of 
an  Indian  encampment.  They  therefore  stood 
perfectly  still  for  several  hours.  When  daylight 
appeared  they  started  cautiously  forward,  making 
a  zigzag  course  toward  their  destination,  some- 
times walking  through  the  beds  of  streams  or 
stepping  from  stone  to  stone  along  their  banks  to 
conceal  their  trail,  after  the  Indian  manner.  They 
travelled  thus  all  day  without  halting  once.  When 
night  again  came  on  they  dared  not  strike  a  light, 
but  lay  down  in  each  other's  arms  to  sleep.  The 
next  day  their  provisions  were  exhausted,  but  they 
fortunately  found  plenty  of  raspberries  and  black- 
berries in  an  opening  in  the  woods  made  by  the 
blowing  down  of  trees.  At  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  they  arrived  at  Fort  Dayton.  Colonel 
Willett  here  heard  that  General  Arnold  had  been 
ordered  to  march  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Stanwix. 
He  immediately  took  horse  for  Albany  to  join 
Arnold. 

Meanwhile  the  enemy  had  been  busy  in  trying 
to  influence  disaffected  inhabitants.  Colonel  Wes- 
ton, the  commander  of  Fort  Dayton,  heard  of  a 


I 


1  i  ll 


I'  V 


\ 


>         ! 


;! 


i  'i 


']       ! 


It 
'I 


"    1 


liii: 


'l^^'i 


:!'»! 


23« 


KKANT   AND    KKl)    lACKI'/r. 


secret  Tory  nicctinp^  at.  tlic  house  of  a  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker in  the  nei<;hborhoo(l.  He  sent  lliere  a 
detachment  of  troops,  who  took  tlie  ineetini;  by 
surprivSe,  just  as  Lieutenant  Buller  from  vSt.  Lei^er's 
army  was  makini;'  a  sp^  ecli.  'lliis  younj;'  man  liad 
come  into  the  country  secretly  with  fourteen  sol- 
diers and  as  many  Indians,  for  tlie  purpose  of 
distributinu^  the  pai)er  which  had  been  prej)ared 
for  tliis  purpose.  lie  was  tried  by  court-martial, 
Colonel  Willett,  who  had  returned  from  Albany, 
presidinix  as  judy^e.  Lieutenant  Butler  was  sen- 
tenced to  death.  A  number  of  American  officers 
who  had  been  collej2^e  students  with  him  interceded 
for  him,  and  his  life  was  saved  b}'  a  reprieve.  He 
was  imprisoned,  but  he  subsequently  ran  away,  to 
return  with  the  Indians  in  their  border  warfare 
upon  his  native  Mohawk  Valley. 

Arnold  was  all  this  time  waiting  at  Fort  Dayton 
for  supplies  and  reinfoi  cements  before  he  marched 
to  the  relief  of  Fort  Stanwix.  Among  the  Tories 
captured  at  the  secret  meeting  with  Lieutenant 
Butler  WMS  a  half-fool  named  Hon-Yost  Schuyler. 
Hon-Yost  is  a  nickname  for  Johannes  Justus. 
Living  on  the  border,  Hon-Yost  associated  much 
with  the  Indians,  and  was  regarded  by  them  with 
the  superstitious  reverence  which  they  have  for 
simple-minded  people.     He  had  taken  the  loyalist 


iilll 


HOW  A  simi'm:t<)N  KAisr.i)  Till-:  sik(;i<:.    239 

side,  and  now  when  lie  was  captured  he  too  was 
tried  l)y  court  inartial  (uul  ^  ondcnuied  to  die. 
I  lis  motiier,  an  old  hall-^^ypsy  creature,  and  liis 
brother  Nicholas  came  to  General  Arnold  to  heiif 
for  I  Ion-Yost's  life.  The  old  woman  pleaded  for 
her  son  elocpiently,  hut  Arnold  was  inexorahle. 
Still  she  bcf^j^ed  and  implored  passionately.  She 
became  almost  frantic  in  her  j^rief,  and  Arnold  at 
last  pn  posed  terms  on  which  he  would  <^rant 
Mon-Yost's  pardon.  He  must  hurry  to  lM)rt 
Stanwix  and  alarm  St.  Le^'er's  army,  so  that  he 
would  raise  the  sie<;e.  The  half-fool  immediately 
accej)ted  these  conditions,  and  his  old  mother 
cai^erly  offered  herself  as  a  hostai^e  for  its  faithful 
performance.  Arnold,  however,  preferred  to  im- 
prison the  brother  Nicholas  in  Ilon-Yost's  stead. 
Nicholas  readily  consented  to  forfeit  his  life  if 
Hon-Yost  proved  untrue  to  his  commission.  I  Ion- 
Yost  now  made  an  arrangement  with  a  friendly 
Oneida  Indian  to  aid  him.  Before  he  set  out  his 
rough  backwoodsman's  clothes  were  hung  up  and 
several  shots  were  fired  through  them.  Me  then 
started  by  one  route  for  St.  Legcr's  army,  and  the 
Oneida  took  another. 

Brant's  Indian  warriors  had  been  morose 
and  dissatisfied  since  the  battle  of  Oriskany. 
They  had   been   promised   an   easy   success   and 


S 


n 


■ 


I 


I' 


li 


pi 


]%: 


If 

•  ■ 

•  ■ 

ill 


m 


iM 


] 


n 


■'.1  ■■ 


).iM, 


f  '5l 


11. ' 


240 


I'.RyVNT   AND    RED    lACKFT. 


much  plunder,  and  they  liad  found  neither  the  one 
nor  the  other.  They  were  now  liokhng-  a  great 
pow-wow  to  consult  the  spirits  about  the  success 
of  the  present  siege.  In  the  midst  of  the  ranting, 
and  drumming,  and  dancing,  and  other  mysterious 
jugglery,  IIon-Yost  arrived  in  camp.  The  Indians 
had  already  heard  some  indefinite  rumors  of 
Arnold's  approach.  Hon-Yost  was  well  known  to 
be  on  their  side,  and  they  crowded  around  him  to 
hear  the  news.  With  the  trickiness  of  a  half-witted 
man  he  did  not  deliver  his  message  in  plain  words. 
He  knew  the  effect  of  mystery  with  an  Indian. 
He  shook  his  head  ominously ;  he  pointed  to  his 
riddled  clothes  to  denote  his  narrow  escape  from 
the  oncomins:  foe. 

"  How  many  men — how  many  men  are  there  ?" 
asked  the  eager  Indians. 

Hon-Yost  looked  up  and  pointed  to  the  leaves 
of  the  trees  over  his  head.  The  report  ran  like 
wild-fire  through  the  camp.  It  quickly  reached 
the  ear  of  the  commander.  St.  Leger  sent  for  Hon- 
Yost.  The  wily  fellow  adopted  a  different  policy 
in  talking  to  the  English  commancl^r.  He  told  a 
straight  and  pitiful  story  :  how  he  had  been  cap-  / 
tured,  tried,  and  condemned  ;  how,  on  the  way  to 
his  execution,  finding  himself  carelessly  guarded, 
he  had  fled,  thinking  he  would  die  any  way,  and  he 


HOW    A   SIMPLETON    RAISED   THE   SIEtlE.      24I 


would  as  soon  be  shot  as  hun<^.  His  escape  had 
indeed  been  narrow,  as  the  colonel  might  sec  by 
looking  at  his  clothes.  And  the  Americans  were 
coming  in  great  force  to  raise  the  siege. 

While  Hon-Vost  was  being  interviewed  at  head- 
quarters the  Oneida  messenger  arrived  with  wam- 
[)um  to  say  that  the  vVmcricans  were  indeed 
coming  in  great  force.  On  his  way  the  Oneida 
had  met  several  Indian  friends,  whom  he  had 
engaged  to  assist  the  scheme  by  following  him  at 
intervals  and  confirming  his  story.  Thus,  from 
time  to  time,  excited  bidians  would  drop  into  cam;) 
from  different  directions  witli  alarming  rumors. 
Birds  had  brought  them  momentous  news,  they 
would  say.  Even  the  spirits  consulted  in  the  pow- 
wow gave  ominous  warnings.  St.  Leger  saw 
that  the  Indians  were  about  to  decamp.  He  tried 
to  reassure  them.  He  called  a  council,  but  neither 
the  influence  of  Brant  nor  that  of  Johnson  and 
Claus  was  of  any  avail. 

"  The  pow-wow  says  we  must  go— the  pow-wow 
says  we  must  go,"  persisted  the  Indians. 

The  beleagured  garrison  looked  on  with  won- 
der to  see  the  enemy  hastily  retreat,  leaving  tents, 
t>^^g"g'\i?e,  and  artillery  behind  them.  Arnold, 
meantime,  had  heard  that  St.  Leger  had  pushed 
his  sapping  process  to  within  a  short  distance  of 


'  m  '\ 


■ 


ii 


ii  !' 


242 


URANT   AND    KKD    [ACKKT. 


the  ramparts,  and,  fcarinj^  lest  the  l)ravc  garrison 
would  fall  viclhns  to  the  Indian  tomahawk,  he 
])ushed  forward  without  waitinij^  lon<j^cr  for  rcir.- 
forcements.  lie  liad  marched  but  ten  miles  when 
mi  express  from  Colonel  Gansev^oort  reached  him 
Vv'ith  the  p;o()d  news  tiiat  tiie  sie<^e  had  been  raised. 
Gansevoort  knew  not  how,  l)ut  Arnold  knew  full 
well. 

Meantime  the  sullen  savaj^cs  in  the  retreating 
army  were  amusing  themselves  at  the  expense  of 
the  loyalists.  They  would  raise  a  shout  that  the 
Americans  were  upon  them,  and  then  their  mock- 
ing laugh  would  arise  on  all  sides  at  the  panic 
they  thus  produced.  It  is  related  that  Colonel  St. 
Leger  and  Sir  John  Johnson  at  one  time  had  a  dis- 
pute. They  were  standing  quarrelling,  the  colonel 
reproaching  the  baronet  for  the  defection  of  the 
Indians,  and  the  baronet  charging  St.  Leger  in 
turn  with  indifference  in  prosecuting  the  siege. 
It  was  just  at  dusk  on  a  summer  evening.  Two 
Indian  chiefs  were  not  far  behind  the  officers  and 
overheard  the  high  words. 

"  They  are  coming !  they  are  coming !"  cried 
the  chiefs,  instantly  putting  a  stop  to  the  dispute, 
for  the  officers  quickly  resumed  the  retreat.  The 
troops  threw  away  knapsacks  and  arms  that  they 
might  proceed  the   faster.     The  Indians  kept  up 


now    A   SIMPLETON    KAISKD   TIIIO    SIKGIC.      243 

the  ^riin  joke  from  time  to  time  all  the  way.  They 
were  by  110  means  in  a  pleasant  frame  of  mind. 
They  robbed  the  oflieers  at  tiieir  pleasure  and 
j)lundered  seveial  of  ihearmv's  boats.  They  even 
murdered  some  of  the  slra'j;'j4linf^  soldiers  of  the 
British  army  before  the  retreat  was  ended. 

Hon- Yost  accomjjanied  the  army  a  little  way 
and  then  returned  to  Fort  Dayton,  where  his 
brother  was  released,  to  the  f^reat  joy  of  the  old 
mother.  He  nevertheless  took  the  first  oi)por- 
tunity  to  join  the  Tories,  runnini;  away  with 
some  of  his  neighbors  to  Sir  John  Johnson's  forees. 

"Britons  never  go  baek!"  Buri^oyne  had  ex- 
claimed at  the  trium})hant  be^-innini^  of  his  cam- 
paig^n.  But  St.  Leger's  retreat  was  but  one  of  the 
many  disasters  which  accompanied  that  great 
expedition.  American  farmers,  in  the  sim})le  uni- 
form of  shirt-sleeves  and  armed  with  fowling- 
pieces,  rose  up  to  meet  the  disciplined  forces  of 
invading  army. 

vt  Schiiylerville,  on  the  Hudson,  a  decisive 
battle  was  at  length  fought  between  the  royal 
forces  and  the  American  army,  the  latter  headed 
by  an  ii  'Tferent  general.  Burgoyne's  whole 
force,  in  ding  the  brave  German  mercenaries 
who  hai  ^een  sold  by  their  princes,  was  surren- 
dered inl     the  hands  of  the  Americans. 


09  ;i  i 

^5 II J 


I 


''i  i 


u-r, 


h  I 

m 

'111 


if 


*■  I 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


W  A  R     O  N     T  II  E     B  O  R  D  E  R .  ^ 

Brant  was  again  at  Oquaga  in  1778,  the  terror 
of  the  border.  Women  turned  pale,  and  children 
trembled  at  his  very  name.  Joined  with  him  were 
forces  of  l()3'alist  settlers  embittered  by  the  loss 
of  their  homes  and  ready  to  strike  terrible  blows 
at  their  old  neighbors.  The  Indians,  from  cime 
to  time,  destroyed  isolated  families  who  lived  on 
the  defenceless  outskirts  of  the  frontier.  It  was, 
over  and  over  again,  the  same  old  story,  a  war- 
whoop,  a  short  and  bloody  struggle,  massacre, 
fire,  and  captivity.  In  the  bitter  animosity  of  the 
day  no  story  of  cruelty  was  too  black  to  be  laid 
up(Mi  Brant,  the  great  chief  of  these  savage  war- ' 
riors.  lie  was  even  accused  of  the  famous  massa- 
cre at  the  Wyoming  Valley,  wh:,:h  was  long 
exaggerated  in  its  horrors,  and  which  is  imr  lortal- 
ized  in  Campbell's  well-known  poem. 

Brant  felt  keenly  the  hatred  with  which  he  was 
regarded  in  after-life  among  fr  )ntier-men.  The 
proud  chief  wished,  according  to  his  ideas,  to  be 


was 
The 
be 


WAR    ON    THE    IJORDER. 


245 


a  gentlemen  in  every  respect.  lie  always  denied 
that  he  had  ever  committed  any  act  of  cruelty 
during  this  cruel  war,  and  none  has  been  proved 
against  him,  while  many  stories  of  his  mercy  ar.: 
well  authenticated.  lie  led  indeed  a  savage  force 
and  fought  in  the  savage  way,  as  the  English 
officials  who  manao-ed  the  Indian  alliance  desired. 
When  Indians  were  accused  of  cruelty  Brant 
would  return  the  charge  upon  the  whi<-es,  who 
sometimes,  in  fact,  almost  excelled  the  savages  in 
their  revencreful  barbarity.  To  Brant  the  civi- 
lized  custom  of  imprisoning  men  was  the  worst  of 
cruelty.  A  man's  liberty,  he  held,  was  worth 
more  than  his  life.  Of  the  Indian  custom  of  tor- 
ture he  did  not  approve,  but  when  a  man  must 
die  for  a  crime,  he  thouglit  it  better  to  give  him 
some  chance  to  make  atonement  in  a  courageous 
and  warrior-like  death  than  to  execute  him  after 
the  manner  of  the  whites  by  the  humiliatincf  ir^l- 
lows.  Brant  used  in  after-life  to  defend  the  Indian 
mode  of  warfare.  He  said  the  Indians  had  neither 
the  artillery,  the  numbers,  the  forts,  nor  the 
prisons  of  the  wliite  men.  In  place  of  artillery 
they  must  use  stratagem;  [is  llicir  forces  were 
small,  they  must  use  every  means  to  kill  as  many 
of  the  enemy  with  as  small  a  loss  to  themselves  as 
possible,  and,  as  they  had  no  prisons,  their  cap- 


fm 

\\ .    \  ;l 

'  l^- :  1 

'  i 

.  '■'  1 

■ 

1 ' 

'1 

J*  ■ 

'8 

1   1 

.«  ,,  ( 

]   in 

;    1 1 

Mi 

■V- 


»     , 

! 

'.  ' 

■]■■' 

':  1 

f 

li 

>  V' 


m 


n 


il 

i 

1' 

246 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


tives  must  in  some  cases  be  killed.  He  held  it 
more  merciful  to  kill  a  suffering  person,  and  thus 
put  an  end  to  his  miser3\ 

During  the  summer  of  177S,  when  every  bor- 
derer trembled  lor  his  life,  a  boy  named  William 
M'Kown  was  one  day  raking  hay  in  a  field  alone. 
Happening  to  turn  around,  he  saw  an  Indian  very 
near  him.  He  involuntarily  raised  his  rake  for 
defence.  ' 

"Don't  be  afraid,  young  man;  I  shan't  hurt 
you,"  said  the  Indian.  ''Can  you  tell  me  where 
Foster's  house  is  ?" 

The  youth  gave  the  directions  to  the  loyalist's 
house,  and  then  said,  "  Do  you  know  Mr.  Foster?" 

**  I  am  partially  acquainted  with  him.  I  saw 
him  once  at  Half-way  Creek,"  answered  the  In- 
dian.    "What  is  your  name?" 

"William  iM'Kown." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  son  of  Captain  M'Kown,  who 
lives  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town,  I  sui)pose. 
I  know  your  father  very  well ;  he  lives  neighbor 
to  Captain  M'Kean.  I  know  M'Kean  very,  very 
well,  and  a  very  fine  fellow  he  is  too." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?"  the  boy  ventured  to  ask. 

The  Indian  hesitated  a  moment  and  then  said  : 
"My  name  is  Brant." 

"  What !  Captain  Brant  ?"  cried  the  boy,  eagerly. 


')'  ■  I 


•  ■  't-1 


WAR    ON    THE    BORDER. 


247 


:/ 


"  No ;  I'm  a  cousin  of  his,"  answered  the  chief, 
smiling  as  he  turned  away. 

The  first  blow  that  Brant  struck  in  1778  was  at 
a  small  settlement  about  ten  miles  from  Cherry 
Valley.  The  inhabitants  were  aroused  by  the 
terrible  war-whoop  in  the  dead  of  night.  Some 
escaped,  the  rest  were  taken  prisoners.  Under 
Brant's  guidance  there  was  no  massacring  of 
helpless  women  and  children.  The  houses  and 
barns  were  fired,  and  their  flames  lighted  up  the 
country.  The  men  were  tied  and  carried  into 
captivity.  Brant  had  left  one  house  unburnt.  Into 
this  he  gathered  the  women  and  children,  and 
here  he  left  them  unharmed. 

The  alarming  news  that  Brant's  forces  were 
increasing,  and  that  he  was  fortifying  himself 
at  Unadilla,  reached  Cherry  Valley.  Captain 
M'Kean,  with  five  men,  started  out  to  reconnoitre. 
They  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  Quaker  named 
Sleeper.  The  Quaker  said  that  Brant  had  been 
there  that  very  day  with  fifty  men,  and  would 
return  again  at  night. 

"  Your  house,  Friend  Sleeper,  sliall  be  my  fort 
to-night,"  said  M'Kean,  examining  the  stout  log 
structure.  "  I  have  five  good  marksmen  with  me, 
and  I  am  not  myself  deficient  in  that  qualification 
of  a  soldier." 


'"I 


11 


i  ?j 


!l 


hi 

1'  ' 


:>ihii|; 


li'i 


} 


!  I  I:  li 


1 1 


1 

i    ! 

f    ' 

1        » 

i 

:l|    I 


'I  m 

-  ■   ill  I'i^ 


ll 


r:  I. 


li 


248 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


The  Quaker  objected.  He  wished  to  remain 
neutral,  and  if  the  borderers  carried  out  their 
wild  plan  he  would  lose  his  property,  and  perhaps 
his  life.  So  M'Kean  returned  to  the  settlement, 
contenting-  himself  with  writing  a  challenge  to 
Brant  to  meet  him  either  in  sinirle  combat  or  with 
an  equal  number  of  men,  with  the  insulting  addi- 
tion that  if  Brant  would  come  to  Cherry  Valley 
they  would  change  him  "  from  a  Brant  to  a  goose." 
This  letter  was  put  in  the  Indian  post-office ;  in 
other  words,  it  was  tied  to  a  stick  and  put  in  an 
Indian  foot-path,  and  was  sure  to  reach  the  chief. 
In  a  letter  to  a  loyalist,  a  few  days  after.  Brant 
added  this  postscript :  "  I  heard  the  Cherry  Valley 
people  is  very  bold  and  intended  to  make  nothing 
of  us  ;  they  call  us  wild  geese,  but  I  know  the  con- 
trary." In  the  letter  he  said  :  "  I  mean  now  to 
fight  the  cruel  rebels  as  well  as  I  can." 

Brant  on  one  of  his  predatory  expeditions,  in 
company  with  loyalists,  was  met  by  a  brave  hand- 
ful of  men  under  Captain  Patrick.  An  open  battle 
ensued.  The  w^hite  men  were  surroun  ;ed.  The 
captain  and  twenty-one  men  were  killed.  Only  five 
men  escaped,  and  they  were  all  wounded.  The 
victorious  enemy  turned  upon  the  settlements  and 
destroyed  fhem  by  fire. 

The  loyalist  and  Indian  forces  fell  at  one  time 


..<f' 


WAR   ON    THE    BORDER. 


249 


upon  the  Schoharie  settlement,  kiUing  and  captur- 
ing the  inhabitants,  burning  their  property,  and 
besieging  the  small  fort,  whose  commander  had 
not  the  courage  to  attempt  anything  fur  the  reliei 
of  the  settlers. 

Disgusted  with  his  commander,  Colonel  Har- 
per, who  was  within  the  fort,  succeded  in  making 
his  escape  on  horseback  through  the  enemy's 
forces,  and  rode  for  Albany,  hoping  to  procure 
assistance.  Several  loyalists  and  Indians,  discover- 
ing his  escape,  pursued  him.  They  overtook  hira 
where  he  lodged  the  first  night.  He  heard  the 
noise  of  their  arrival,  and,  jumping  up  from  his 
bed,  he  was  ready  for  them.  When  they  broke 
open  his  door  he  threatened  to  kill  the  first  man 
who  offered  to  enter.  No  one  made  the  attempt, 
and  he  stood  thus  on  guard  all  night.  Toward 
morning  he  succeeded  in  again  getting  to  his 
horse  and  escaping.  He  was  pursued  almost  to 
Albany  by  an  Indian  trving  to  get  a  shot  at  him. 
When  the  Indian  would  near  him  Harper  would 
turn  and  gallop  towards  him.  The  Indian  would 
retreat,  only  to  renew  his  attempts  again  when  the 
colonel  turned  his  back.  At  Albany,  Harper  pro- 
cured a  detachment,  which  rode  all  night  and  into 
the  settlement  at  early  morning,  to  the  great  joy 
of    the    survivinir    inhabitants.      A    cIkivv^q    \vas 


H4l 


f'l 


in 
I 


{' 


Is 


.  '.■  1 

i  I  I. 
I-  )' 


»lii 


::   1 


i 


!Ei  I 


250 


BRANT  AND  RED  JACKET. 


'  li  n  I 


mmV 


III 


sounded  upon  the  besieging  forces,  and  thej 
retreated  precipitately. 

Tlie  borderers  became  savage  Indian  fighters. 
They  fought  the  Indians  with  their  own  weapons 
of  stratagem  and  surprise.  One  man  was  taken 
prisoner  by  a  party  of  seven  Indians.  They 
marched  him  off  into  the  woods.  When  night 
came  they  bound  him  and  laid  down  to  sleep. 
During  the  night  he  managed  to  release  himself 
from  his  bonds.  He  cautiously  slipped  a  toma- 
hawk from  the  girdle  of  one  of  the  sleeping  In- 
dians. With  swift  blows  he  killed  six  of  the 
Indians.  The  seventh  one  was  wounded,  but 
escaped,  while  the  white  man,  having  thus  released 
himself,  returned  home  without  fear  of  being 
chased  by  his  captors. 

One  of  the  daring  border  characters  was  Tim 
Murphy,  a  Virginian,  who  had  joined  the  militia, 
and,  after  his  term  had  expired,  remained  on  the 
frontier  to  wage  war  on  his  own  account,  just  from 
a  delight  in  adventure.  His  was  an  unerring  aim, 
,and  he  had  a  double-barrelled  rifle  which  at  first 
struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the  Indians,  who 
supposed  he  could  fire  all  day  without  reloading. 
When  they  at  last  learned  the  true  powers  of  the 
mysterious  gun,  they  thought  themselves  safe  in 
attacking  the  owner  after  his  second  fire.     Many 


■ 


\,.\:i    ON    TlIK    IJORDKR. 


251 


'  fii         (!   '  P 


were  the  attempts  made  on  his  Hfe  by  the  savaj^es. 
Murphy  was  one  day  pursued  by  sonic  Indians. 
He  outran  them  all  except  one,  whom  he  turned 
"jpon  and  shot.  He  supposed  the  others  iuid 
given  over  the  chase,  and  stopped  to  plunder  the 
body  of  the  fallen  Indian.  Before  he  knew  it  the 
pursuers  were  upon  him.  Picking  up  the  rifle  of 
the  dead  Indian,  he  fired  upon  the  foremost  pur- 
suer. The  Indians  then  rushed  upon  him,  think- 
ing themselves  safe  after  the  second  shot.  The 
savages  thought  they  now  had  their  invincible  foe, 
when  he  turned  upon  them  and  killed  one  of  their 
number  with  the  remaining  barrel  of  his  own  gun. 
The  pursuers  fled,  sure  that  Murphy  could  fire  all 
day  without  loading.  This  Murphy  could  take  a 
scalp  with  as  much  gusto  as  a  savage,  and  he 
boasted  after  the  war  was  over  that  he  had  slain 
forty  Indians. 


"•!  i 


» f; 


;! 


HI!       I 


■ 


CHAPTER    XXXI  I. 

THE    MASSACRE   OF   CHERRY    VALLEY. 

The  finest  and  richest  part  of  the  Mohawk 
V^alley  was  known  as  the  German  Flats.  Here 
was  a  thriving  settlement,  barns  well  filled  from 
an  abinidant  crop,  and  here  stood  a  stone  church 
built  by  Sir  William  Johnson.  Brant,  with  his 
Indian  armv,  made  his  swift  march  upon  this  set- 
tlement in  the  early  fall  of  1778.  Fortunately  four 
scouts  from  the  settlement  were  out.  Three  of 
them  were  killed  bv  the  Indians,  but  the  fourth 
one  escaped  to  warn  the  settlers.  Men,  women, 
and  children  took  to  Fort  Dayton  and  Fort  Herki- 
mer for  safetv.  vSome  of  their  most  valuable 
property  Avas  hastily  thrown  into  boats  and  taken 
to  the  forts.  The  stealthy  Indians  nearcd  the  set- 
tlement The  evening  was  very  dark  and  rainy. 
Brant  did  not  know  that  his  approach  was  ex- 
pected. He  waited  for  the  abating  of  the  storm 
in  a  ravine  near  Mr.  Shoemaker's  house,  where 
young  Butler  and  Hon-Yost  had  been  captured 
flu'  v:\ir  before.     Before  morniuir  the  stor?n  broke 


% 


I  - 


// 


TITF,    MASSACRE    OF    CTIKRRV    VAT, LEV. 


253 


away  and  the  Indians  were  on  the  move.  Tliey 
swept  into  the  settlement  from  different  directions, 
that  they  mijj;-ht  take  it  entirely  by  surprise.  Tliey 
found  the  houses  deserted.  A  moment  more  and 
the  settlement  was  in  a  blaze.  Each  family  could 
see  from  the  fort  its  own  home  and  the  stored-up 
fruits  of  their  year's  labor  fast  burning  up.  But 
they  might  indeed  be  thankful  they  were  not  in  the 
houses.  The  Indians  dared  not  brave  the  artillery 
of  the  forts.  As  day  dawned  they  could  be  seen 
rushing  into  the  meadows  after  the  cattle,  and 
driving  away  shcc})  and  horses.  They  left  the 
settlers  nothing,  but  fortunately  they  had  found 
only  two  men  to  kill. 

The  friendly  (Oneida  Indians  imdcrtook  an  ex- 
pedition agamst  Brant's  villages  in  return,  and  did 
some  damage.  They  came  back  with  prisoners 
whom  they  presented  to  the  settlers  for  slaves,  as 
they  said. 

A  war  of  retaliation  was  now  begun.  A  regi- 
ment of  American  troops  marched  upon  Brant's 
headquarters.  They  approached  Unadilla  with 
the  greatest  caution,  thinking  to  surprise  the  In- 
dians in  their  homes,  but  Indians  are  not  often  so 
surprised.  They  found  that  Unadilla  had  been 
deserted  for  some  days.  Capturing  a  loyalist, 
tlr-.-y  made   him   guide    them   to    Ocjuaga.   .   This 


' 


Ml 

mi 


■\ 


>    I: 

i  1: 1 
")  1  ii. 


(I 


'i  >i 


fl 


4}- 


1 


'  1  :; 
■  i  i 


>i 


254 


HRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


town  had  been  but  just  deserted  in  the  greatest 
confusion,  and  much  of  tlie  Indians'  p()rtal)hf 
jjioperty  was  left  behind.  Here  were  a  number 
of  well-built  houses  which  denoted  Brant's  efforts 
at  civilization.  The  soldiers  feasted  upon  the  poul- 
try and  vegetables  of  the  Indians,  and  then  every- 
thing was  set  on  fire  and  destroyed. 

Near  to  this  place  was  an  Indian  fortificat'on. 
This,  too,  was  laid  in  ruins.  On  the  return  two 
mills  were  burned,  and  the  village  of  Unadilla 
was  left  in  a  blaze. 

•  From  his  ruined  villages  Brant  returned  to 
Niagara  for  winter  quarters.  He  was  met  on  the 
way  by  the  young  Butler  who  had  been  impris- 
oned among  the  Americans.  Butler,  with  a  force 
of  loyalists,  was  marching  to  attack  the  settle- 
ments. He  brought  orders  for  Brant  to  join  him. 
The  Mohawk  chief  was  much  displeased  to  be  put 
in  a  subordinate  position  under  this  young  man, 
whom  he  disliked.  He  was  at  length  persuaded 
to  join  him,  however,  with  some  five  hundred 
warriors. 

It  was  late  in  the  fall.  The  scattered  settlers  had 
returned  to  their  homes,  thinking  it  too  late  in 
the  season  for  further  danger  from  the  Indians. 
Cherry  Valley's  fort  w^as  the  church  surrounded 
with  a  stockade  and  in  the  care  of  eastern  soldiers. 


THE   MASSACRE   OF  CHERRY   VALLEY.        255 

who  knew  little  of  Indian  fightini^.  They  received 
some  intelh'<^cnce  of  an  approach  from  tlie  ln(Uans, 
but  contented  themselves  with  sending  out  scouts, 
who  when  night  came  on  built  a  fire  and  lay  down 
to  sleep  by  it.  They  awoke  to  find  themselves 
prisoners.  Butler  and  Brant  a[)proached  the  set- 
tlement on  a  stormy  nig-ht.  They  fired  upon  a 
straggling  settler,  who  escaped  to  give  the  alarm, 
but  the  infatuated  commander  of  the  garrison  did 
not  yet  believe  that  the  Indians  were  there  in 
force.  The  wild  army  were  about  to  enter  the 
village.  Unfortunately  Butler's  men  halted  to 
examine  their  arms,  as  their  powder  had  been  in- 
jured by  the  rain.  The  Indians  pressed  forward, 
and  foremost  of  all  the  Scnecas,  uncontrollable  in 
their  ferocity.  The  house  of  Mr.  Wells,  a  promi- 
nent citizen,  was  first  surrounded.  Every  person 
in  the  house  was  killed.  The  officers  of  the 
garrison  had  been  quartered  among  the  settlers. 
The  commander,  Colonel  Alden,  was  pursued 
down  a  hill  by  an  Indian.  He  turned  and  snapped 
his  pistol  repeatedly  upon  his  pursuer,  but  the 
savage  threw  his  tomahawk  at  the  officer's  head 
and  laid  him  dead.  Several  famihes  were  entirely 
cut  off.  One  man  returned  from  the  field  to  find 
his  wife  and  children  all  killed.  There  was  no- 
thing   left   for   him    but    to   remove   their  bodies 


iii' 

ri 

H  1 1 

if' 

1    ;■ 

i 


I 


,1 


If 


r.  i   4 


1   r 
'   ( 

If 


1  ij  1  W^ 


^] 


256 


I5RANT  AND    RKD  JACKET. 


tenderly  to  tlu;  fort.  The  tiuinlerers  entered  the 
house  of  nn  old  man,  killed  his  wife,  and  were 
about  to  kill  him  and  his  dauj^hter,  when  Lillle 
Aar<jn,  a  Mohawk  ehief,  led  the  old  man  totterinj;' 
with  aj^e  and  the  others  to  the  door  and  stood 
f^uard  over  them.  The  loyalists  assisted  in  the 
massacre.  Thirty-two  settlers,  mostly  women  and 
children,  and  sixteen  soldiers  were  killed.  Some 
of  the  settlers  escaped  to  the  woods,  and  from 
there  to  the  Mohawk  Valley. 

Brant  was  much  chaj^rined  at  the  murder  of  the 
Wells  family,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted. 
He  had  tried  to  anticipate  the  Indians  and  reach 
the  Wells  house  first,  but  did  not  succeed.  His 
next  care  was  to  ask  after  Captain  M'Kean.  lie 
was  told  that  he  had  probably  escaped  to  the 
Mohawk  with  his  family. 

"  He  sent  me  a  challenge  once,"  said  Brant.  "  I 
have  now  come  to  accept  it.  He  is  a  fine  soldier 
thus  to  retreat." 

"  Captain  M'Kean  would  not  turn  his  back  upon 
an  enemy  when  there  was  any  probability  of  suc- 
cess," answered  his  informer. 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Brant.  "  He  is  a  brave  man, 
and  I  would  have  given  more  to  take  him  than 
any  other  man  in  Cherry  Valley,  but  I  would  not 
have  hurt  a  hair  of  his  head." 


M 


TIIK    MASSACKK    ol     (  IfKUKV    VAI.I.I.V. 


^57 


Dull  11^  the  massacre  Brant  entered  a  house 
where  lie  found  a  woman  j^oinj^  about,  hei"  ie<j;uhir 
duties. 

"  I  low  does  it  iiapijen  you  are  at  this  kind  of 
work  while  your  nei<;hbors  are  all  murdered 
around  you?"  exclaimed  the  chief. 

"  We  are  kin<^'s  people,"  answered  the  wo- 
man. 

"That  i)lea  won't  sa-ve  you  to-day,"  said  Brant. 

"There  is  one  Joseph  I3rant;  if  he  is  with  the 
Indians,  he  will  save  us,"  said  the  woman. 

"  I  am  Joseph  Brant,"  answered  the  chief;  "but 
I  am  not  in  command,  and  I  (h)n'tknow  that  1  can 
save  you,  but  1  will  do  what  I  can." 

At  this  moment  some  Senecas  approached  the 
house.  "Get  into  bed  and  pretend  you  are  sick," 
said  Brant.  The  woman  hurried  into  bed  and 
Brant  met  the  Senecas. 

"There's  no  one  here  but  a  sick  woman  and  her 
children,"  said  he.  lie  prevailed  upon  the  Indians 
to  leave,  after  a  little  conversation.  When  they 
were  out  of  sij^ht  he  went  to  the  door  and  <^ave  a 
long,  shrill  yell.  Immediately  some  Mohawks 
came  running  across  the  fields. 

"Where  is  your  paint?"  Brant  called  out  to 
them.  "  Here,  put  my  mark  upon  this  woman 
and   her  children."     The   Mohawks  obeyed,  and 


ii 

J 


I 


*:  & 


Ml 


t1 


'if  h 
I  V 


.1    H 

r.  1:  ''A 


<    / 


I  : 

'\  .»  If 


■' 1 


■  n 


'^4    ^ 


4 


fc 


l^'.' 


21,8 


JIKAM'    AND    Ki:i>    JAeKKT. 


Hratit    tiinuul    t(>   \\w   woman,  sayiii^^,   "  Vou  arc 
now  |>r«>l)al)lv  sale." 

riu*  i;anisoii  ot  \Uc  fort  dared  niako  no  sallv, 
on  arconnl  ol  llio  snpciior  nninhcis  of  \\\v  Indians 
and  lovalisls,  who,  on  tlu-if  ]>ait,  gained  no  snccrss 
in  i\:\  attrnipli'd  assanll.  '\\\c  vwvuw  t-ncampcd 
for  \hv  nii;hl  in  the  \alirv.  The  prisoners,  sonic 
thirt\  or  forlv  incw,  women,  anti  eliil(hen,  were 
j;athered  aronnd  a  i;real  lu'e  while  iheii*  I'aplors, 
by  the  lii;ht  of  n-.m^^ous  snrronndtni;-  hrts,  were 
distrilnitini;-  and  diviihni;'  ]>lnnder.  The  prisoners 
spent  a  slee[iless  ni^ht.  Tht^v  leaned  tliat  torture 
was  reserved  for  then.i.  In  the  mornini;-  they  were 
(hvided  into  small  ei>mpanies  and  distributed 
amoui;-  the  various  Indian  bamls.  The  whole 
force  then  beg;an  its  march  down  Cherry  Valley 
Creek.  On  the  mornini^  of  the  followinj^  day  the 
prisoners  were  all  gathered  tog^cthcr,  and  were  in- 
formed that  the  wonvMi  and  children  \>  ere  all  to 
be  sent  back  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Campbell 
and  her  children  and  Mrs.  Moore  and  her  children. 
The  husbands  of  these  two  women  had  been 
active  in  bt^rder  warfare,  and  it  was  resolved,  as  a 
punishment,  to  keep  their  families  in  captivity. 
Mrs.  Campbell  was  taken  into  the  Seneca  country. 
She  was  separated  from  her  little  children,  one  of. 
them  a  baby.     The  children   were  adopted    into 


V.  mm 


illl',    MASSACkK    OF    CHKUkV    VAI.LKV. 


2i( 


59 


(lilfcrciil.  lainilics.  Slic  made  licisclf  useful  to  tlio 
f;imily  vvlio  adoplcl  lier  l)y  makiiif^  thcrn  Rai- 
ments, aiul  it.  was  wit  li  great,  dilliciilty  t  li;»f  tliey 
well"  |H  rsiiiided  to  give  lier  up  wlieu  she  and  tier 
eliildreu  were  exeliauged  for  Ijritisli  i)ris(jiiers 
amoiiL;  tl»(;  y\merieaiis. 

All  incident:  lia|)])eiK!d  while  these  prisoners 
were  in  captivity  wliich  shows  that  "Miss  iMolly," 
who  was  now  hvinj^  at  Niagara,  was  very  much 
like  other  Indian  women.  For  some  reason, 
founded,  |)erha|)s,  on  sonu^thing  lia[>peiiiiig  in  her 
life  at  Johnson  Mall,  Molly  Brant  had  a  mortal 
hatred  for  Colonel  Stacia,  who  was  one  of  the 
ca|)lives.  In  true  Indian  fashion  she  dreamed,  and 
came  to  Colonel  Hutler  with  lier  dre^im.  It  was 
that  she  h.ad  the  "  Yankee's  head,"  and  she  and 
her  countrymen  were  kicking  it  about  the  fort. 
Colonel  Butler  answered  this  blo(j(lt!iirsty  hint  by 
scMiding  her  a  small,  painted  keg  of  rum.  But  she 
came  to  the  Colonel  with  a  second  dream.  This 
time  she  was  kicking  the  "  Yankee's  head  *' about 
with  a  hat  uj)on  it.  But  Butler  again  presented 
her  with  a  keg  of  rum,  and  told  her  decidedly 
that  Stacia  would  not  be  given  into  the  hands  oi 
the  Indians.  • 

Among  othsr  captives,  i^rant  had  carried  away  . 
a  man  named  Vrooman,  who  was  an  old  friend  uf 


,|i 


?^BBsmmmmm 


W 


If '« 


260 


TiRANT   AND    RED    JACKKT 


II  ' 


i't'     ». 


the  chief.  Dcsirlnj;^  to  ^ivc  his  friend  a  chance 
to  escape,  Brant  sent  him  back  about  two  miles  to 
<j^et  some  birch-bark.  lie,  of  course,  expected  to 
see  no  moix'  of  him,  but  what  was  his  surprise 
when,  a  few  hours  after,  Vrooman  came  hurrying 
up  with  tho  bark,  which  the  chief  did  not  want, 
Brant  said  afterwards  that  he  had  sent  Vrooman 
back  on  ])urpose  to  give  him  a  chance  to  escape, 
but  he  was  such  a  big  fool  that  he  did  not  do  it, 
and  he  was  forced  to  lake  liiiii  to  Canad  i. 


> 


ran 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

brant's  battle  on  the  Delaware. 

Brant  had  planned  some  ^rcat  winter  expe- 
dition. But  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clarke*  had 
strwck  his  wonderful  and  successful  blow  at  the 
western  posts  of  Vincennes  and  Kaskaskia,  which 
for  a  lime  paralyzed  the  Indians.  In  the  mid- 
summer of  1779  the  town  of  Minisink,  on  the 
Navisink  River,  near  the  border  f)f  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania,  was  left  unprotected,  except  by 
its  own  inhabitants.  With  a  band  of  sixty  Mo- 
hawks and  twenty-seven  Tories  disguised  as 
Indians,  Brant  stole  upon  the  Minisink  people, 
whose  first  warning  was  the  burning  of  houses. 
Most  of  the  inhabitants  fled,  but  some  were  killed 
and  others  taken  captive.  The  houses  were  plun- 
dered and  burned,  property  destroyed,  and  cattle 
driven  away.  His  object  acccnnplished,  Brant 
swiftly  moved  away,  joining  his  main  force  at 
Grassy  Brook. 


'^    1:  ' 


.  i 


m  I 


*Sec  "  Life  of  Tecumseh"  in  this  series. 


Jli 


262 


BRANT  AND    RED   JACKET. 


The  flying"  inhabitants  had  run  to  Goslicn.  Here 
Colonel  Tusten  called  toirether  tlie  militia.  The 
colonel  himself  thought  it  Uxiwise  to  luulertake 
the  punsuit  of  Brant,  as  the  Indian  force  was 
l^robably  greatly  superior  to  the  militia.  Many 
of  the  men  did  not  agree  with  him,  however,  and 
one  of  the  officers  jumped  upon  his  horse,  waved 
his  sword,  and  called  out,  "  Let  the  brave  men 
follow  me,  the  cowards  may  stay  behind  !" 

There  was  no  more  debate,  and  a  hundred  and 
fifty  men  niarched  out  against  the  chief's  great 
f(n'ce.  As  they  neared  the  Indians,  they  discov- 
ered the  deserted  camp.  Here  were  many  cam})- 
fires  still  smouldering,  and  it  was  evident  that 
Brant's  force  was  much  superior  to  the  band  which 
was  marching  against  it,  but  the  men  would  not 
listen  to  prudent  advice.  They  hurried  on.  A 
scout  was  killed.  Still  they  pushed  forward,  imtil 
they  reached  the  hills  of  the  Delaware  River. 
Brant's  forces  could  be  seen  in  full  view,  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  away,  marching  toward  a  ford- 
ing place.  The  American  commander.  Colonel 
Hathorn,  resolved  to  intercept  the  Indians  at  the 
ford.  Preparing  for  this  manoeuvre,  the  Americans 
were  obliged  to  move  through  the  woods,  losing 
sight  of  the  enemy.  Brant  suspected  the  man- 
oeuvre of  Colonel  Hathorn.      lie  instantly  wheeled 


j#*J 


m 


brant's    IJAl'TLi:    ON    Till:    DKLAWARE. 


;63 


about,  and  threw  himself  in  the  rear  of  his  enemy. 
The  Americans  reached  the  ford  to  find  the  In- 
dians gone.  They  hahed.  A  small  body  of 
Indians  showed  themselves  in  an  unexpected 
(juarter.  Brant,  accordin:^  tn  his  own  account, 
stepped  forward  and  hailed  the  colonel. 

"  My  force  in  ambush  is  very  i^reat,"  said  the 
chief,  frankly.  "It  is  stroni^  enough  to  destroy 
you.  Now,  before  any  bhjod  has  been  shed,  1  can 
control  my  warriors,  but  if  the  battle  once  begins 
I  cannot." 

But  Brant  said  the  Americans  refused  to  j)arlc\', 
and  fired  upon  him.  At  any  rate,  the  battle  began 
about  elev^en  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Brant  gave 
the  war-whoop,  and  the  Indians  rushed  in  upon 
the  enemy  from  all  sides.  They  succeeded  in 
cutting  off  one  third  of  Hathorn's  forces  from  the 
main  body.  The  Americans  were  short  of  am- 
munition. 

"Don't  fire  until  you're  very  sure  )-our  powder 
won't  be  wasted,"  cried  the  commander. 

The  battle  was  a  long  one.  Gradually  the 
brave  Americans  were  hemmed  in  to  an  acre  of 
land.  Still  theii  unninishing  nundx-rs  ko})t  the 
Indians  at  bay  until  sundown.  Their  ammunition 
was  gone,  and  thev  attempted  to  retreat.  The 
fierce    savages,    fiercer    for    (he    long    resistance. 


! 


bi    'i 


264 


IJKANT   AND    Ki:!)    lACKKT. 


rushed  upon  them  with  the  tomahawk.  Colonel 
Tiisteii,  wlio  was  a  physician,  was  dressing  the 
\\'(ninds  of  his  men  behind  tlie  rocks  when  the  re- 
treat began.  lie  and  his  wounded  men  fell 
victims.     But  thirty  men  escaped  the  tomahawk. 

Brant  told  long  afterwards  a  strange  incident 
of  this  battle-field.  After  the  battle  was  over,  in 
movinir  around  amon^f  the  dead  the  chief  dis- 
covered  a  prominent  citizen  of  Goshen,  Lieutenant 
Wisner,  still  alive.  Brant  examined  his  wounds, 
and  saw  that  there  was  no  hope  of  his  recovery, 
thouirh  Wisner  was  able  to  talk  and  aware  of 
everything  that  went  on  around  him.  "  Now," 
thought  the  chief,  '' wdiat  shall  1  do?  I  cannot 
carry  this  man  away.  It  woidd  be  cruel  to  leave 
him  here  to  die  a  lingering  death.  Besides,  when 
we  are  gone  the  wolxrs  \v\\\  be  here  t(3  increase 
his  tortures."  Brant  decided  that  the  best  thing 
he  could  do  would  be  to  j)ut  the  dying  man 
quickly  out  of  his  miserw  and  that  without 
wcjundiui^  his  feelinafs.  He  talked  with  him  a 
moment  pleasantly,  and  having  thus  distracted 
his  attention,  unperceived  bv  Wisner  he  suddenly 
struck  him  dead  with  his  tomahawk. 

One  man  during  the  massacre  following  the 
battle  had  made  a  sign  mdicating  that  he  was  a 
freemason.       Brant    immediately    saved    his    life. 


t 


grant's    liATTI.E    ON    THK    DELAWARK.        265 

but  was  very  indiij^nant  when  he  discovered  that 
the  man  was  not  a  member  of  tlie  order.  He 
spared  his  life,  but  treated  liim  harshly  ;  nothing 
could  exceed  his  scorn  for  the  man  who  had  thus 
imposed  upon  him.  The  captive  on  his  part,  it  is 
said,  felt  bound  to  join  the  order  immediately  on 
his  release  from  a  long  captivity. 


M 


n 


Iff!  .Jl 

if 


i:  1/ 


i 


'(-1       ^M 


*     ■  i  \ 


III!!'' 


CIIAPER  XXXIV. 


RED   JACKET. 


Red  Jacket  was  some  years  younger  than 
Brant,  having  been  born  about  1750.  I  lis  birtli- 
place  is  said  to  be  on  the  site  of  the  present  town 
of  Geneva,  at  tlie  foot  ol  Seneca  Lake.  There  has 
been  no  effort  made,  as  in  the  case  of  Brant,  to 
claim  "  noble  descent"  for  Red  Jacket.  He  came 
of  an  ordinary  Indian  famil)-,  and  doubtless  was 
regarded  with  little  hope  of  future  glory  by 
his  parents.  For  he  was  remarkably  small  and 
insignificant  for  an  Indian.  But  like  many  men 
who  are  physically  deficient,  Red  Jacket  made 
up  for  it  in  an  immense  conceit.  He  showed 
no  predilection  for  war.  Indeed,  he  did  not 
go  upon  the  war-path  until  the  invasion  of  his 
country,  when  he  was  twenty-nine  years  of  age, 
forced  every  Iroqu(ns  man  to  defend  his  home. 
Red  Jacket  was  a  remarkal:)ly  swift  runner.  In  his 
youth  he  was  called  Otctiani,  or  "  Always  Ready." 
He  was  employed  a  great  deal  among  lils  people 


RED  JACKET. 


267 


as  a  messcng-er.  He  was  also  very  successful  in 
huntin*^  because  of  his  swiftness. 

During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  Reel  Jacket 
made  himself  very  useful  to  the  British  officers  as 
a  messenger.  He  was  doubtless  the  more  so  be- 
cause of  his  intelligence  and  gift  for  oratory.  In 
return  for  his  services  the  officers  presented  the 
young  man  with  a  scarlet  jacket,  very  richly  em- 
broidered. One  can  ini;igine  the  immense  pride 
with  which  Otetiani  d(^nned  this  brilliant  jacket, 
and  which  gave  him  the  name  by  which  he  is  best 
known.  He  took  such  delight  in  the  garment 
and  in  the  name  that  he  was  kept  in  red  jackets 
as  fast  they  were  worn  out,  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  And  after  the  war,  when  the  Americans 
wished  to  gain  his  favor,  they  gave  l.im  a  red 
jacket. 

Brant  and  Red  Jacket  were  essentially  oppo- 
sites  in  every  regard.  Brant  was  a  Mohawk,  Red 
Jacket  was  a  Seneca,  from  the  opposite  end  of  the 
"Lorq^  House."  Brant  was  tall,  muscular,  and  in- 
clined to  corpulency,  with  a  large  bright  eye  and 
broad  lower  forehead ;  Red  Jacket  was  small  and 
wiry,  with  little  sharp  eyes  looking  out  from  be- 
neath frowning  brows,  and  a  towering  forehead. 
Brant  was  at  least  the  grandson  of  a  chief,  con- 
nected with  the  powerful  Johnson  family,  reared 


la 


#- 


268 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


under  Sir  William's  influence,  educated  among  thr 
whites,  a  member  of  the  Ri)iscopal  Church,  and  a 
gentleman  in  his  bearing  ;  Red  Jacket  was  an  In- 
dian of  the  Indians,  hated  civilization,  could  speak 
English  but  very  imperfectly,  detested  education 
and  Christianity,  and  made  no  pretence  at  con- 
forming to  the  polite  customs  of  white  society. 
Above  all,  Brant  was  proud.  He  had  gained  his 
influence  through  his  gifts  as  a  warrior,  and  could 
afford  to  be  frank  and  truthful.  Red  Jacket,  on 
the  other  hand,  was  vain  and  lacked  courage,  He 
was  very  smart,  and  he  had  no  scruples  as  to  what 
means  he  used  to  gain  influence  among  his  people. 
They  were  both  great  men  among  the  Indians  of 
the  Six  Nations,  they  were  both  patriotic,  and  they 
both  loved  their  own  people  and  customs,  and 
preferred  them  to  those  of  the  whites. 

Brant  hated  Red  Jacket  very  heartily.  He  could 
find  no  excuse  for  the  latter's  lack  of  courage. 
Brant  was  a  powerful  young  chief,  with  his  heart 
in  the  English  cause.  Red  Jacket  was  a  rising 
young  man  of  gifts,  but  he  was  not  a  warrior,  and 
was  totally  unscrupulous  as  to  which  side  he  took 
so  long  as  he  gained  influence  thereby.  The  two 
men  very  naturally  clashed.  Brant  gave  Red 
Jacket  the  nickname  of  Cow-Killer.  He  used  to 
tell  that  at   one   time  during  the    Revolutionary 


r  I 


RED  JACKET. 


269 


war,  Red  Jacket  with  his  usual  eloquence  ex- 
horted the  Indians  to  courage,  and  promised  to  be 
with  them  in  the  thickest  of  the  flight.  When  the 
battle  came  off,  however.  Red  Jacket  was  missing, 
having  stayed  at  home  to  cut  up  a  cow  which  he 
had  captured.  The  brave  Seneca  chief  Cornplan- 
ter  had  as  strong  a  dislike  for  the  intriguing  Red 
Jacket  as  Brant  himself.  These  two  chiefs  one  day 
dined  at  a  wliite  gentleman's  house  in  company 
with  .Red  Jacket.  During  the  meal  Cornplanter 
took  occasion  to  tell  the  story  as  though  it  had 
been  done  by  some  other  Indian.  Brant  and  Corn- 
])lantcr  laughed  very  heartily,  enjoying  the  joke 
and  the  evident  confusion  of  Red  Jacket,  wIk^  tried 
to  join  in  the  laugh  but  could  not  conceal  his 
wounded  vanitv. 

When  some  one  sneeringly  questioned  Red 
Jacket  as  to  his  gifts  as  a  warrior,  he  burst  out 
with,  "  I  am  an  orator !  I  was  born  an  orator !" 
And  indeed,  from  the  accounts  of  all  who  heard 
him,  Red  Jacket  must  have  been  a  very  eloquent 
speaker.  What  better  tribute  could  there  be  to 
his  eloquence  than  the  name  which  was  given  him 
when  he  became  a  chief  ?  It  was  Sagoyewatha,  or 
He-Keeps-Them-Awake. 


!  ■  ' 


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i 


Hit 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


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11. . 


2.5 


IIM    2.2 


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1-25      1.4      1,6 

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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

(716)  872-4503 


^    ^ 


<"  MP.j. 


x^^a: 


^6 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


THE   INVASION. 


Washington  was  long  known  among  the  Iro- 
quois Indians  under  the  name  of  Town-Destroyer. 
They  well  knew  that  he  had  planned  the  great  in- 
vasion into  their  country  in  1779.  Two  divisions 
moved  Into  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations  at  once. 
One  from  Pennsylvania,  under  General  Sullivan, 
was  to  ascend  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Tioga  River, 
where  it  would  be  met  by  the  other  irom  the 
north,  under  the  cominand  of  General  Clinton. 
A  large  amount  of  stores  were  thrown  into  Fort 
Stanwix  to  be  used  in  case  of  necessity,  and  Clin- 
ton's army  was  ready  to  proceed  from  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley.  They  must  first  traverse  a  portage 
of  about  twenty  miles  to  Otsego  Lake.  Stores 
were  carried  across  and  two  hundred  boats  drawn 
over  this  long,  rough  portage.  It  took  four 
horses  to  draw  a  boat.  The  regiments  were 
stationed  along  the  road  to  guard  the  carry,  and 
to  assist  in  the  most  difficult  places. 

The  Oneida  Indians  were  invited  to  join  General 


m 


THE  INVASION. 


271 


Clinton,  but  they  preferred  to  stay  and  guard  their 
homes,  fearful  lest  the  British  or  their  sister-na- 
tions should  wreak  vengeance  on  them.  General 
Clinton  built  a  dam  across  the  outlet  of  Otsego 
Lake  and  thus  greatly  increased  its  depth. 

The  Indians,  meantime,  were  hovering  around 
the  army.  Elerson,  a  famous  frontier  rifleman, 
wandered  awr.y  from  the  camp  to  gather  some 
pulse  for  his  dinner.  He  filled  his  knapsack  with 
the  lierb  and  had  just  thrown  it  over  his  shoulder, 
when  he  heard  a  rustling  in  the  tall,  coarse  grass. 
He  turned  and  saw  ten  or  twelve  Indians,  who 
were  just  on  the  point  of  jumping  upon  him  to 
make  him  a  prisoner.  The  hunter  grasped  his 
rifle,  standing  at  his  side,  and  with  a  spring  tried 
to  escape.  A  shower  of  tomahawks  were  thrown 
at  his  head.  Elerson,  however,  had  already 
reached  a  thicket.  One  of  the  hatchets  hit  him 
on  the  hand,  nearly  cutting  off  one  of  his  fingers.^ 
Elerson  did  not  pause  a  moment,  but  scrambled 
over  an  old  brush  fence  and  into  the  woods,  with 
the  Indians  after  him.  He  led  them  a  lively  chase. 
Despairing  of  catching  him  alive,  they  fired  but 
did  not  succeed  in  wounding  him.  From  eleven 
in  the  morning  until  three  in  the  afternoon  Eler- 
son kept  up  his  breathless  pace.  He  used  every 
dodge  and  device  to  deceive  his  pursuers  and  put 


^1 


!* 


'■■'« 


N  ' 


ii  ■ 
1 


- '  »*  f  i 


•*  i 


272 


URANT  AND   RED  JACKKT, 


them  upon  the  wrong  track,  but  in  vain.  At  last 
he  stopped  a  moment  to  breathe,  believing  he  had 
outrun  the  savages.  Instantly  an  Indian  sprang 
up  in  front  of  him.  Elerson  raised  his  rifle,  when 
he  received  a  flesh-wound  in  the  side  from  another 
quarter  and  heard  the  crack  of  still  another  rifle. 
The  Indian  in  front  had  disappeared  when  Eler- 
son's  rifle  had  been  pointed  at  him.  Elerson  fled 
again,  his  wounded  side  bleeding  a  little.  He 
crossed  a  ridge  and  descended  into  a  valley.  He 
lay  down  by  the  little  stream  which  ran  through 
it  to  take  a  drink,  for  he  was  very  thirsty.  Scarcely 
had  he  done  so  when  he  saw  an  Indian's  head  ap- 
pear over  the  crest  t)f  the  hill.  He  raised  his  rifle 
to  shoot,  but  his  arm  trembled  so  that  he  could 
not  steady  it.  The  Indian  was  coming ;  in  a  mo- 
ment more  he  would  be  upon  the  white  man.  The 
exhausted  man  managed  to  rest  his  gun  against  a 
tree,  and,  with  unerring  aim,  he  brought  his  pursuer 
tumbling  down  the  hill.  Hastily  he  reloaded  his 
gun,  when  the  rest  of  his  pursuers  came  rushing 
over  the  ridge.  Elerson  now  gave  himself  up  for 
lost.  He  hid,  howeve  r,  behind  the  trunk  of  a  large 
hemlock,  but  he  knew  that  the  Indians'  quick  eyes 
could  not  fail  to  discovc*  him.  Their  attention 
was,  for  the  moment,  attracted  to  the  wounded 
Indian,  who  was  not    yet  dead.      They  drew  a 


THE   INVASION. 


273 


circle  around  him  and  began  the  death-wail.  Tak- 
ing advantage  of  this  momentary  pause,  Elerson 
sped  away.  He  buried  himself  deep  in  a  hemlock 
thicket  and  crept  into  a  hollow  tree.  Here  he  took 
breath,  having  run  twenty-five  miles.  For  two 
days  he  stayed,  and  then,  stealing  from  his  hiding- 
place,  moved  cautiously  along,  not  knowing 
where  he  was.  He  soon  found  familiar  landmarks 
and  reached  the  settlement  of  Cobbleskill. 

There  stood  on  the  outskirts  of  the  Cherry  Valley 
settlement  one  house  which  had  been  missed  in 
the  destruction  of  the  settlement.  The  owner, 
Mr.  Shankland,  had  removed  his  family  to  the 
Mohawk  for  safety,  but  he  and  his  son  were  stay- 
ing in  the  house.  Failing  in  their  attempt  to  cap- 
ture Elerson,  the  Indians  discovered  this  lonely 
house  and  assailed  it.  They  cut  away  at  the  door 
with  their  hatchets  and  awakened  the  inmates. 
Shankland  sprang  up,  and,  taking  two  guns, 
ordered  his  son  to  load  them  while  he  fired.  He 
could  not  get  an  aim  at  the  Indians,  however,  and 
resolved  to  make  a  sally  with  a  spear  which  he 
happened  to  have  in  the  house.  Carefully  unbar- 
ring the  door,  he  suddenly  rushed  violently  at  the 
Indians.  The  Indians  tumbled  back  in  astonish- 
ment. One  of  them  fell  over  a  log;  vShankland 
struck  at  him,  but   his  spear  entered  the  log  and 


i  \ 


» 

i 


4^ 

I  :i  r 


:|^' 


!f^ 


,  *  i 


J 


1! 


274 


BRANT   AND    RED  JACKET. 


parted  from  the  handle.  He  stopped  to  wrench  it 
out,  and  then  retreated  into  the  house  and  barred 
the  door,  the  Indians  having  been  too  much  aston- 
ished to  fire  at  him.  Meantime  the  son  had 
escaped  from  the  house  and  tried  to  reach  the 
woods.  He  was,  however,  pursued  and  captured. 
Shankland  continued  the  fight  from  within,  firing 
upon  the  besiegers  and  wounding  some  of  them, 
while  they  could  but  shoot  at  random  through 
the  windows.  He  meditated  rushing  out  and 
fighting  the  Indians,  selling  his  own  life  with  as 
many  of  theirs  as  possible.  But  he  reflected  that 
they  would  then  wreak  vengeance  on  his  son. 
The  Indians  at  last  set  fire  to  the  house.  As  the 
flames  burst  up  through  the  building  they  danced 
around  in  savage  glee,  sure  now  of  their  victim. 
But  Shankland  had  quietly  crept  out  at  the  back 
of  his  house  into  a  field  of  hemp,  and,  hidden  by 
this,  to  the  woods.  Meantime  the  Indians  watched 
around  the  house  until  it  was  consumed,  and,  sure 
that  their  victim  had  died  in  the  flames,  they 
raised  a  triumphant  shout  and  left  with  their  pris- 
oner, whose  life  they  saved. 

Meantime  General  Clinton  was  impatiently 
waiting  at  Otsego  Lake  for  the  order  from  Gen- 
eral Sullivan  to  move  forward.  When  early  in 
August  this  came,  a  strange  thing   happened  to 


1 


THE   INVASION. 


275 


the  Indians.  It  was  a  very  dry  season,  there  had 
been  no  rains,  but  suddenly  the  Susquelianna  came 
rushing  down  in  a  roaring  torrent,  overspread ini»- 
its  banks  into  their  very  fields,  and  destroying 
their  corn  and  vegetables  at  Oquaga  and  in  the 
neighborhood.  Clinton  had  broken  his  dam  and 
released  the  accumulated  water  at  Otsego  Lake, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  great  boats  of  the  white 
man's  army  came  down  where  nothing  but  Indian 
canoes  had  ever  been  seen  before.  The  savages 
concluded  that  the  Great  Spirit  must  have  made 
the  flood  to  show  that  he  was  angry  with  them. 

The  two  armies  met  at  Tioga  in  the  latter  part 
of  August,  forming  together  an  army  of  five 
thousand  men,  which  began  its  march  up  the  Che- 
mung River.  They  soon  destroyed  the  first  In- 
dian town  and  standing  corn.  Washington's 
orders  had  been  that  the  destruction  of  the  Indian 
viiiages  should  be  thoroughly  completed  before 
any  terms  were  made. 


lit: 


.  (■  ' 


If 


■  :4 


K- 


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31. 


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t 


lii 


!; 


(■■ 


i 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

BRANT   GIVES   15ATTLE   TO    GENERAL   SULLIVAN. 

Brant  was  resolved  to  defend  his  country,  if 
possible,  from  the  ravages  of  the  Americans.  The 
English  supported  their  Indian  allies  in  their 
defence.  The  elder  and  younger  Butler,  and  Sir 
John  and  Guy  Johnson,  with  two  hundred  and 
fifty  regular  troops  and  rangers,  were  with  Brant 
and  his  Indians.  The  Americans  estimated  that 
Brant  had  more  than  a  thousand  Indians  under  his 
command,  but  an  English  writer  states  it  at 
scarcely  more  than  half  that  number.  Brant  cer- 
tainl}'  had  all  the  force  he  could  command  from 
the  depleted  villages  of  the  warlike  Iroquois.  He 
had  had  ample  time  to  prepai'e  while  the  clumsy 
white  man's  army  was  making  its  slow  movements 
into  his  country.  He  was  stationed  near  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Elmira.  The  Indians  and  hjyalists  had 
built  them  a  breastwork  half  a  mile  in  length,  par- 
tially protected  by  a  bend  in  the  river,  and  by  a 
steep  ridge  upon  which  it  rested.  Besides  the 
natural    woods    and    brush    the    Indians   had   cut 


^ 


l1 


HKANT   GIVES    IJATTLE   TO   SULLIVAN. 


277 


down  a  j^rcat  many  low  shrub  oaks  and  stuck 
them  in  the  ground  around  their  breastwork  to 
mask  it. 

The  advance-guard  of  the  American  army  dis- 
covered the  enemy  about  eleven  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  29th  of  August.  Skirmishing 
instantly  began,  small  parties  of  Indians  sallying 
out,  from  time  to  time,  and  attacking  the  white 
forces  with  fearful  war-whoops.  When  the  main 
army  had  come  up,  Sullivan  conjectured  that  the 
savages  had  possession  of  the  hill.  He  ordered 
General  Poor's  brigade  to  wheel  off  and  attempt 
to  gain  the  enemy's  left  flank,  while  the  main  force 
attacked  the  front.  The  Indians  gave  battle  from 
every  side  ferociously.  Each  tree,  bush,  and  rock 
was  alive  with  an  Indian,  and  the  woods  resounded 
with  their  whoops  and  yells.  Always  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight  was  Brant,  shouting  and 
encouraging  his  warriors  on  to  victory.  Both  In- 
dians and  loyalists  stood  their  ground  bravely. 
They  only  gave  way  inch  by  inch  before  the  supe- 
rior  force.  As  Sullivan's  troops  gradually  forced 
them  from  tree  to  tree  they  contested  their  ground 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  so  much  were  they  in 
earnest.  The  artillery  now  began  to  play  in  a  way 
that  Sullivan  pronounced  "elegant,"  and  which 
sent  dismay  into  the  hearts  of  the  Indians.     They 


i 

i 


i 


H 


m 


It 


.1 


3 


■,f 


278 


IJRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


ii 
I' 


still,  h(nvcvcr,  fou<^ht  bravely.  Brant  was  the  first 
to  guess  the  enemy's  designs.  Assisted  bv  p  bat- 
talion of  the  rangers,  he  gave  Pour's  brigade  a 
brave  fight  as  they  attempted  to  ascend  the  hill. 
During  the  contest  the  chief  was  rushing  from 
point  to  point,  everywhere  at  once,  animating  his 
men  and  encouraging  them  to  hold  out.  But  it 
was  of  no  use.  Poor  gained  the  summit  and  turned 
the  flank  of  Brant's  little  army.  The  latter  saw 
that  his  men  were  likely  to  be  surrounded. 

"  Oonah  !  oonah  !"  arose  from  all  sides,  and  the 
Indian  forces  made  a  swift  retreat  across  the  river, 
dropping  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives  on  the 
way.  They  had  carried  off  their  dead  during  the 
battle  as  usual,  but  in  the  hurry  of  retreat  they 
left  eleven  bodies  upon  the  field,  and  fourteen 
more  were  subsequently  discovered  hastily  buried 
among  the  leaves.  The  American  forces  pushed 
them  in  their  flight  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and 
eight  scalps  were  taken  by  the  Americans  during 
the  pursuit.  Brant  had  lost  more  warriors  than 
he  could  afford  to  lose.  The  American  loss  was 
but  hair  a  dozen  killed  and  forty  or  fifty  wounded. 

From  the  battle-field  a  flying  campaign  was  be- 
gun. Only  some  small  field-pieces  were  taken 
with  the  army,  and  the  men  were  put  upon  short 
rations.     Several  small  Indian  villagers  were  de- 


BRANT   GIVES   DATTLK   TO   SULLIVAN. 


279 


fcitroycd,  and  large  cornfields  laid  waste.  The  sol- 
diers now  had  a  rough  journey  before  them  through 
dangerous  defiles,  where  the  Indians,  had  they  not 
been  demoralized  by  their  defeat,  might  have 
done  them  serious  injury.  Several  times  the 
troops  had  to  ford  streams,  the  men  up  to  the 
waist  in  water.  Once  the  rear  of  the  army  spent 
the  night  in  a  great  swamp,  the  men  being  too 
tired  to  move  further.  Fortunately  for  them  the 
Indians,  who  were  feasting  on  roast  corn  a  few 
miles  from  the  place,  did  not  dream  of  Sullivan 
advancing  on  so  dark  a  night  through  so  bad  a 
way. 

Early  in  September  the  army  reached  the  head 
of  Seneca  Lake.  Here  an  Indian  town  was 
burned,  corn  destroyed,  and  even  the  very 
orchards  hacked  down.  Some  of  the  American 
officers  objected  to  this  as  wanton. 

*'  The  Indians  shall  see  that  there  is  malice 
enough  in  our  hearts  to  destroy  everything  that 
contributes  to  their  support,"  said  General  Sulli- 
van. The  Americans  had  been  exasperated  by  a 
long  border  war.  Every  town  was  destroyed, 
every  field  laid  waste,  ancient  orchards  and  even 
pear  and  peach  trees  were  hacked  down. 

Meantime  Brant,  with  his  Indian  forces,  was 
hovering  near  the  destroymg  army,  bent  o!i  har-' 


'1 


'«! ;; 


IS 


;!; 


^fi 


28o 


liKANT  AND   Rli:!)  JACKEl'. 


assing  them  as  much  as  possible.  I'crliaps  he 
would  have  accomplished  more  had  it  not  been 
for  the  divisions  among  his  own  warriors;  for  an 
Indian  chief  has  to  be  controlled  by  the  fickle 
courage  of  the  independent  Indians  whom  he 
leads.  Brant  always  ascribed  much  of  his  people's 
misfortunes  in  this  campaign  to  Red  Jacket.  This 
ambitious  young  politician  was  bent  on  acquiring 
influence  in  some  way  or  other.  He  would  be  of 
small  consequence  following  the  policy  of  Brant, 
Cornplanter,  and  the  older  chiefs.  Defeat  always 
produces  dissatisfaction  in  Indian  forces.  Red 
Jacket  joined  the  dissatisfied  party.  He  held 
secret  council  among  the  young  warriors  and 
younger  chiefs.  He  used  his  eloquence,  i)erhaps 
not  unwisely,  in  favor  of  conciliating  the  enemy. 
At  Red  Jacket's  suggestion  a  messenger  was  sent 
to  Sullivan  with  information  of  the  disaffection  in 
Brant's  camp,  and  inviting  peaceful  propositions. 
But  Brant,  by  some  means,  had  information  of 
this  move,  so  contrary  to  his  own  policy,  and  so 
humiliating  to  his  pride.  He  feared  the  conse- 
quences in  his  own  camp  if  the  Americans  should 
propose  peace.  Brant  settled  the  matter  in  a 
truly  Indian  way.  He  sent  out  two  confidential 
runners  to  waylay  the  messenger  on  his  way  from 
the   American  camp,  and   to    put   him   to   death. 


t 


l! 


HRANT   GIVES    HATTLli   TO    SULLIVAN*. 


281 


Thus  a  stop  was  put  to  Red  Jacket's  maiuruvres 
and  to  all  peacefMl  proposals. 

Cornplanter  had  planned  to  make  a  stand 
aj^ainst  a  detachment  of  Sullivan's  forces  at  the 
Indian  town  of  Canandaigua.  When  the  Ameri- 
ccuis  ap|)roached,  Red  Jacket  and  some  of  the  In- 
dians began  to  retreat.  Cornplanter  tried  to  rally 
his  men.  He  sprang  in  front  of  Red  Jacket  and 
vehemently  encouraged  him  to  fight.  It  was  of 
no  use,  and  the  Seneca  chief  had  to  abandon  his 
undertaking. 

"  Leave  that  man ;  he  is  a  coward  !"  said  the 
wrathful  Cornjilanter  to  Red  Jacket's  wife. 

The  Indians  found  that  Sullivan  intended  to 
advance  even  upon  their  beautiful  Genesee  coun- 
try. After  holding  a  council  they  decided  to 
strike  another  blow  at  the  invaders.  Placing  their 
women  and  children  at  a  safe  distance  within  the 
woods,  they  laid  an  ambuscade  on  the  j)ath  of  the 
army.  Without  waiting  till  they  got  the  main 
army  within  their  clutches,  however,  they  arose 
and  fired  upon  the  advance-guard.  There  was  a 
lively  skirmish,  and  the  advance-guard  fell  back 
upon  the  main  army.  The  Indians  gained  noth- 
ing but  the  capture  of  two  Oncidas,  who  had 
been  serving  as  guides  to  Sullivan's  army.  This 
sad  civil  war  had  not  onlv  divided  the  families  of 


i 


1 


im 


I.  !• 


l! 


■n-i 


i 


r.   s 
i. 

I    : 

i     ■ 

i 

i 

.1;  : 

i 

1: 


n 


282 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


white  people  but  those  of  Indians.  One  of  the 
Oneidas  had  a  brother  among  the  hostile  Indians 
who  had  vainly  tried  to  persuade  him  to  join  the 
British  cause  at  the  outset  of  the  war.  This  In- 
dian now  strode  up  to  his  captive  brother  and 
delivered  this  speech  : 

"  Brother  !  You  have  merited  death,  and  shall 
die  by  our  hands.  When  those  rebels  had  driven 
us  from  the  fields  of  our  fathers  to  seek  out  new 
houses,  it  was  you  who  dared  to  step  forth  as  their 
pilot  and  conduct  them  even  to  the  doors  of  our 
wigwams  to  butcher  our  children  and  put  us  to 
death.  No  crime  can  be  greater.  But  though 
you  have  merited  death  and  shall  die  on  this  spot, 
my  hands  shall  not  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  a 
brother.     Who  will  strike  ?" 

A  moment's  pause,  and  the  chief  Little  Beard 
stepped  out.  His  hatchet  flashed,  and  the  Oneida 
lay  dead.  Little  Beard  turned  to  the  other 
captive:  ^ 

"  I  am  fighting  only  against  the  whites,  and  your 
life  shall  be  spared,"  said  he. 

General  Sullivan  dispatched  Lieutenant  Boyd 
with  twenty-six  yncn  to  reconnoitre  Little  Beard's 
town,  which  was  fortified.  Boyd  had  performed 
his  mission,  and  had  found  but  two  Indians  in  the 
deserted   town.     These  were  killed   and   scalped, 


Di  the 
idians 
lin  the 
lis  In- 
T  and 

d  shall 
driven 
it  new 
,s  their 
of  our 
us  to 
hough 
s  spot, 
d  of  a 

"Beard 
>neida 
other 

your 

Boyd 

leard's 

)rmed 

in  the 

ilped, 


BRANT   GIVES   BATTLE  TO   SULLIVAN. 


283 


after  the  manner  of  white  men  engaged  in  savage 
warfare.  On  his  return,  Bo)^d  was  intercepted  by 
Brant  with  some  five  hundred  warriors.  Sur- 
rounded by  Indians,  Boyd  resolved  to  try  to  cut 
his  way  through  them.  In  his  first  attempt  he 
and  his  men  killed  several  Indians  without  any 
loss  to  themselves.  Boyd  was,  however,  forced 
back.  He  attempted  a  second  and  a  third  time  to 
cut  his  way  out,  and  his  men  fell  all  around  him. 
He  was  left  with  a  band  of  but  eight.  Some 
of  these  were  killed,  and  others  succeeded  in 
escaping  by  flight.  Among  them  was  Murphy, 
the  famous  rifleman.  Boyd  was  captured.  He 
asked  permission  to  speak  with  Brant,  and  told 
him  that  he  was  a  mason.  Brant  promised  to 
protect  him.  He  conducted  him  to  Little  Beard's 
town,  where  the  Indian  and  Tory  forces  were  now 
assembled.  Brant  was  called  away,  and  it  i;5  as- 
serted that  he  was  left  in  charge  of  the  loyalist 
Butler,  and  that  on  his  refusing  to  give  information 
with  regard  to  the  Americans,  Butler  delivered 
him  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  It  is  certain 
that  a  band  of  Senccas,  among  whom  was  Little 
Beard,  by  some  means  got  possession  of  him,  and 
he  was  most  cruelly  tortured  to  death.  • 

Sullivan  attempted  to  gain  the  enemy's  rear,  but 
the   Indians  retreated  precipitately.     The  Anieri- 


J' 

M: 

lb 


i  I 
,  i  i 


I' 


U' 


,  »? 


^1! 


! 


284 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


cans  marched  forward  to  the  Genesee  Valley. 
They  were  surprised  to  see  a  smiling  country, 
evidently  long  under  cultivation.  The  troops  im- 
mediately began  their  work  of  destruction.  The 
palisaded  fortress  was  burned,  and  the  fields  were 
laid  waste.  The  town  of  Genesee,  containing 
twenty-eight  large  houses,  was  burned.  It  was 
surrounded  by  miles  of  corn  and  vegetable  fields. 
The  ears  of  corn  were  sometimes  twenty-two 
inches  long.  In  one  orchard  fifteen  hundred  fruit- 
trees  were  cut  down. 

From  Genesee  the  army  returned,  having  de- 
stroyed some  forty  or  fifty  towns  and  innumerable 
orchards  and  fields  of  grain.  It  was,  perhaps,  the 
only  way  to  chastise  the  slippery  Indians.  Num- 
bers of  them  died  of  famine,  and  the  i)estilence 
which  goes  hand  in  hand  with  famine,  in  the  en- 
suing winter.  Many  of  them  were  driven  to  seek 
subsistence  at  the  British  post  of  Niagara,  where 
Brant  had  his  winter  quarters.  1  he  winter  was 
an  unusually  cold  one,  but  in  spite  of  cold  and 
want  the  Indians  followed  Brant  in  an  expedition 
of  vengeance  upon  the  Oneidas.  Their  fortress, 
their  homes,  and  their  little  church  were  de- 
stroyed. They,  in  turn,  were  driven  back  upon 
the  United  States  for  support  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  war. 


BRANT   GIVES   BATTLE   TO   SULLIVAN. 


285 


Another  expedition  was  sent  out  from  Pittsburg 
under  Colonel  Brodhead,  which  succeeded  in  de- 
feating a  small  band  of  Indians  and  laying  waste 
well-built  towns  and  fertile  cornfields  belonging 
to  the  Iroquois. 


I  ; 


'I'      ''r 
■I      k 

w 


ill: 


I 


If 


1:1 


1     s    it 


Ki 


i 


i}!^> 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


BRANT     AND     HIS     CAPTIVES. 


One  of  the  Cherry  Valley  captives,  MiSvS  Moore, 
was  courted  by  a  British  officer  of  the  Niagara 
garrison.  The  marriage  took  place  during  the 
winter.  It  was  a  great  event  for  the  lonely  wil- 
derness post,  and  was  celebrated  with  a  great  deal 
of  enjoyment  by  the  British  and  loyalist  officers. 
Brant  was  invited  to  the  wedding.  Brant's  second 
wife  had  died,  and  he  was  now  living  with  a 
third.  He  took  the  opportunity  to  have  the 
marriage  ceremony  performed.  It  was  doubtless 
celebrated  with  a  great  deal  of  enjoyment  on  the 
part  of  the  garrison.  Brant  wore  at  this  time 
leggins  and  breech-cloth  of  very  fine  blue  cloth, 
moccasins  beautifully  ornamented  with  beads,  a 
short  green  coat,  silver  epaulets,  and  a  small  round 
hat  trimmed  with  lace.  At  his  side  hung  a  hand- 
some silver-mounted  cutlass.  Over  all  was  a  blue 
broadcloth  blanket  with  a  gorgeous  red  border. 
This  he  took  pains  to  drop  off  of  his  shoulders, 
that  the  silver  epaulets  might  be  seen.     We  may 


BRANT   AND    HIS   CAPTIVES. 


287 


be  sure  the  bride  was  dressed  in  a  costume  of  the 
gayest  broadcloth,  richly  embroidered  with  bead- 
work. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1780  Brant  was  again  on 
the  war-path.  He  led  a  small  band  of  Indians  and 
Tories  upon  the  settlement  of  Harpersfield.  For- 
tunately most  of  the  inhabitants  had  left  so  exposed 
a  home.  Few  were  killed,  and  but  nineteen  made 
pi'ivSoners.  Brant  now  crept  upon  the  upper  fort 
of  ikihoharic,  hoping  to  take  it  if  he  found  it 
weak  enough.  Before  he  reached  the  fort,  how- 
ever, he  came  upon  thirteen  of  its  men  under 
Captain  Alexander  Harper,  busy  makmg  maple- 
sugar  for  the  use  of  the  garrison.  The  small  band 
of  Indians  and  Tories  then  under  Brant  crept  up 
around  the  unsuspecting  sugar-makers.  At  the 
first  shot  three  of  them  fell  dead.  Brant  immedi- 
ately rushed  out  from  behind  the  trees,  and  going 
up  to  Captain  Harper,  tomahawk  in  hand,  said, 
"  Harper,  Fm  sorry  to  find  you  here." 

"  Why  are  you  sorry.  Captain  Brant  ?"  boldly 
asked  Harper. 

"  Because,"  said  Brant,  raising  the  tomahawk, 
"  I  must  kill  you,  although  we  were  schoolmates 
in  our  youth."  Suddenly  his  arm  fell.  lie  looked 
at  Harper  very  sharply  and  asked,  "  Are  th'2r(?  anj 
regular  troops  at  the  forts  in  Schoharie?" 


I  %. 


I  . 


11:. 
ill 


I 


1  i 


■■  u    f  4 


I; 


Ill 


,4 


V.     -, 

V 


'nmmtmmit^iti' 


288 


BRANT  AND  RED  JACKET. 


li  p> 


I 


Harper  knew  that  if  he  told  the  truth  Brant 
would  fall  upon  the  almost  defenceless  settlement. 
With  a  pause,  and  returning  Brant's  scrutiny  un- 
blushingly,  he  answered,  "  Yes ;  a  reinforcement 
of  three  hundred  Continental  soldiers  arrived  at 
the  Schoharie  forts  only  a  day  or  two  ago." 

Brant  was  much  disconcerted  at  this  news.  He 
forbade  the  prisoners  being  touched  for  the  time 
being,  and  called  a  council.  Night  had  come  on. 
The  eleven  prisoners  were  shut  up  in  a  pHi  of 
logs,  and  guarded  by  the  seven  loyalists  who  ac- 
companied the  expedition.  Their  leader  was  a 
brutal  fellow  named  Becraft.  The  debate  in  the 
Indian  council  as  to  whether  the  prisoners  should 
be  killed  or  carried  to  Niagara  occupied  them 
nearly  all  night.  Harper  could  hear  the  loud 
words  of  the  speakers,  and,  understanding  thei. 
language,  could  gather  the  import  of  what  was 
said.  They  were  in  favor  of  death.  Becraft 
meantime  took  pleasure  in  tantalizing  them,  say- 
ing, with  an  oath,  "You'll  be  in  hell  before 
morning."  Brant,  however,  finally  overcame  the 
majority  in  favor  of  death. 

In  the  morning  Harper  was  called  into  council  j 
to  be  examined.     Brant  looked  at  him  very  hard 
and  told  him  that  they  were  suspicious  that   he 
had  not  told  the  truth.     Harper  coolly  answered 


S  .r. 


rant 
lent. 
r  un- 
ment 
jd  at 

He 

time 

le  on. 

1^  of 

lo  ac- 

ivas  a 

in  the 

,hould 
them 
loud 
thei. 
t  was 
ecraft 
I,  say- 
jefore 
le  the 

)uncil  I 
hard 

iat  he 
re  red 


BRANT   AND   HIS   CAPTIVES. 


289 


that  his  story  was  true,  and  repeated  his  state- 
ments. Brant  then  rchictantly  resolved  to  return  to 
Niagara.  Me  told  Harper  that  he  had  designed 
to  attack  the  fort,  having  heard  that  it  was  ahnost 
undefended.  Brant's  Indians  were  much  disap- 
pointed thus  to  be  deprived  of  the  phnidcr  which 
they  had  expected.  It  was  with  difficuUy  that 
Brant  could  keep  them  from  massacring  the  pris- 
oners in  their  chagrin. 

The  Indians  began  their  return  march.  The 
captives  were  loaded  with  heavy  packs  of  the 
plunder  taken  at  Harpersfield.  They  moved  first 
down  the  Delaware  to  a  mill,  where  they  provided 
themselves  with  provisions.  The  miller,  who  was 
a  Tory,  advised  the  Indians  to  kill  their  prisoners. 
On  the  following  day  they  were  met  by  a  loyalist 
who  knew  Brant  and  his  prisoners  well.  Me  as- 
sured Brant  that  there  were  no  troops  at  the  Scho- 
harie forts.  Marper  was  again  bronght  up  lor 
examination.  Brant  again  seemed  to  look  him 
through  and  through,  and  Harper  again  told  so 
straight  a  story  that  the  chief  was  inclined  to  be- 
lieve him.  An  old  man  and  two  grandsons  were 
captured  soon  after.  The  old  man  was  not  able  to 
keep  up  with  the  Indians,  and  saw  that  he  must 
die.  He  bade  the  boys  an  affectionate  farewell, 
and  then  lagged  behind.     A  young  warrior,  whose 


i  \ 


Hi 


1 

'I 


i  ■  '1 


.n 


1 


% 


'■^ 


290 


nUANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


face  was  painted  l)lack  in  denote  liiin  as  llic  execu- 
tioner, linj^fercd  too  and  soon  came  up  with  the 
old  man's  scalp. 

On  their  lon<j^,  roui^h  journey,  with  very  heavy 
burdens,  the  privSoners  seemed  Ukely  to  be  forced 
to  h\^  behind  Hke  the  old  man.  Fortunately  for 
them,  however.  Brant  was  attacked  with  the  ague, 
and  was  unable  to  travel  on  every  alternate  day. 
He  used  a  characteristic  Indian  remedy  for  his 
disease,  lie  sought  a  rattlesnake's  h'lunt,  and 
here  he  watched  for  a  snake  to  creep  out  to  enjoy 
the  spring  sunshine.  Having  caught  one,  he  had 
it  made  into  soup.  He  took  this  soup  and  recov- 
ered from  his  chills. 

A  very  unfortunate  incident  for  the  prisoners 
now  happened.  On  setting  out  from  Niagara, 
Brant  had  detached  a  small  band  of  warriors  to 
again  fall  upon  the  Minisink  settlement.  They 
had  succeeded  in  capturing  five  stalwart  frontiers- 
men. On  their  return,  while  the  Indians  were  one 
night  sleeping  soundly,  one  of  the  prisoners  man- 
aged to  get  one  hand  out  of  his  bonds.  With 
this  he  released  himself,  and  very  quietly  unbound 
his  four  companions.  They  then  each  slipped  a 
tomahawk  from  an  Indian  belt  and  fell  upon  their 
captors.  They  killed  nine  Indians  almost  instantly, 
and  the  two  survivors  attempted  to  escape.    They 


I  j' 

,11  ■ 


BRANT   AND    HIS   CAPTIVES. 


291 


:xccu- 
:h  the 

heavy 
forced 
3ly  for 
i  a^ue, 
:e  day. 
for  his 
it,    and 
[)  enjoy 
he  had 
i  recov- 

■isoners 
liagara, 
iors  to 
They 
fontiers- 
ere  one 
irs  man- 
With 
Inbound 
[pped  a 
m  their 
[stantly, 
They 


struck  one  of  them  a  blow  between  the  shoulders, 
and  then  made  good  their  own  retreat  towai'd 
home.  The  remaining  Indian  retnriicd  to  watcli 
over  his  wounded  comi)anion.  While  I5raiit's 
party  was  now  journeying  toward  Niagara  one  of 
the  warriors  gave  a  whoop,  ft  was  answered  l)y 
a  lonely  voice  with  the  death-yell.  Startled,  they 
ran  in  the  direction  of  the  noise.  They  were  met 
by  the  only  survivor  from  the  detachment  that  had 
gone  against  Minisink.  As  they  gathered  around 
him  he  told  them  his  story.  Instantly  they  were 
bent  on  revenge.  They  encircled  their  prisoners 
with  menacing  looks  and  prepared  to  kill  them. 
The  hatchets  were  raised  for  the  massacre,  when 
the  survivor,  who  had  excited  them  to  revenge  by 
his  pitiful  story,  rushed  into  the  circle  and  made 
an  appeal  in  behalf  of  the  prisoners.  He  said  that 
they  were  not  the  murderers  of  his  brothers  and 
ought  not  to  be  punished  for  it.  With  an  earnest 
speech  he  appeased  the  enraged  Indians,  and  the 
prisoners'  lives  were  again  saved. 

Both  the  Indians  and  their  captives  suffered 
much  from  hunger  during  the  remainder  of  the 
journey.  What  little  they  had  was  always  divided 
with  the  utmost  fairness,  under  the  supervision  of 
Brant.  They  had  now  but  a  handful  of  corn 
apiece  for  their  dinner.     They  found  at  one  time, 


i  f 


1: 


■ft 


II 


m 


d 


I 


292 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


however,  a  dead  horse.  He  had  been  left  by  Sul- 
livan's expedition,  and  had  died  in  the  cold  of  the 
severe  winter.  The  wolves  had  eaten  the  poor 
horse's  bones  bare,  but  on  the  under  side  there  re- 
mained tlcsh  that  they  could  not  get  at.  This  was 
equally  divided  and  distributed,  under  Brant's 
direction.  Reaching  the  Genesee  River,  the  fam- 
ished party  found  a  band  of  Indians  preparing  to 
plant  corn.  They  had  a  fine  horse,  which  was 
killed  and  dressed  by  Brant's  order.  The  chief 
showed  the  prisoners  how  to  use  the  white  ashes 
of  wood  for  salt,  and  they  all  had  a  feast. 

It  was  customary  among  the  Indians  to  send  a 
runner  ahead  of  the  returning  war-party  to  an- 
nounce the  results  and  the  number  of  prisoners. 
Thus  they  were  sure  to  be  met  by  men,  women, 
and  children  on  their  arrival  at  the  village,  and 
must  run  the  gauntlet  for  their  amusement.  At 
Genesee,  Brant  forwarded  the  customary  messen- 
ger to  Niagara.  The  Tories  of  the  party  amused 
themselves  in  describing  to  the  prisoners  the  hor- 
rors of  the  ordeal  through  which  they  must  pass 
when  they  should  enter  the  two  Indian  encamp- 
ments this  side  of  Niagara,  at  which  the  main 
body  of  the  Six  Nations  was  now  gathered.  The 
prisoners  were  bordermen  and  knew  well  what  to 
expect.     They  knew  that  even  Brant  could  not 


11^ 


RRANT   AND    IIIS   CAPTIVES. 


293 


end  a 
o  an- 
oners. 
omen, 
,  and 
At 
essen- 
used 
hor- 
pass 
amp- 
main 
The 
at  to 
not 


save  them  from  this.  What  was  their  surprise, 
on  entering  the  first  encampment,  that,  instead 
of  being  met  by  a  hooting,  whooping  crowd  arn.cd 
with  hoes,  chibs,  knives,  and  tomahawks,  they 
found  the  Indians  gone  and  a  regiment  of  British 
soldiers  in  their  place!  "Never  mind,"  said  the 
disappointed  prophets,  "there  is  another  one  to 
come,  and  the  Indians  of  that  camp  are  especially 
fierce."  But  here,  also,  the  Indians  were  absent, 
and  the  war-party  marched  through  two  parallel 
lines  formed  by  anotl.er  regiment  of  soldiers. 

The  secret  of  it  al!  la ;  with  the  dignified  chief. 
The  Miss  Moore  who  had  been  married  to  a 
British  offtcer  was  Captain  Harper's  niece.  Har- 
per, however,  did  not  know  of  her  marriage, 
nor  even  that  she  was  at  Niagara.  Brant  had 
remained  perfectly  silent  about  the  whole  matter, 
although  he  knew  of  the  relationship  very  well. 
When  he  arrived  at  Genesee,  desirous  of  saving 
his  old-time  friend  from  the  gauntlet,  under  pre- 
tence of  sending  ahead  the  usual  runner  he  had 
sent  a  message  to  Miss  Moore's  husband  inform- 
ing him  of  the  approach  of  his  wife's  uncle,  and 
proposing  a  trick  by  which  he  might  be  saved 
from  Indian  cruelty.  Consequently  the  Indians 
had  been  enticed  away  to  a  feast  supplied  from 
the  public  store,  and,  to  further  protect  the  prison- 


1  ■. 


i!  .      I 


m 


li 


294 


•"  UKANT   AND   KKI)  JACKKT. 


ers  from  the  violence  of  any  straj^f^lin^  Indians 
around  the  camps,  tlie  two  rc<^iments  were  sent 
out.  With  tliis  ruse  Brant  had  saved  his  prisoners 
from  injury.  We  may  be  sure  Captain  Harper 
had  a  pleasant  surprise  in  meetin<f  his  niece  at 
Niagara. 


iiii 


/ 


-e^ 


CflAITKK     XXXVfir. 


ki;'iAi,iA'noiN/, 


'rill':  IJrilisfi  Jiiid  lii'li.'iiis  planned  tlio  (h^sfnir- 
tioii  ()(  llu!  ciiliic  cliaiti  (»(  frunlicr  sctlkirncnts  in 
17.Su.  Tlic  loyalists,  who  liad  lost  their  projx  rty 
and  thcii"  houics,  wen;  very  hitter  against,  their 
rebel  ne'^hhors,  as  they  called  thern,  arifl  many 
were  the  cruel  detuls  which  the  brutal  meri  anion^ 
them  j)erj)etrated  in  this  border  warfare;,  thmj^h 
tliese  indeed  were  fj^reatly  exaggerated  in  the 
j)artisan  accounts  of  the  day.  The  Inrlians,  too, 
were  bent,  on  retaliation  for  the  destruction  of 
their  villaf^es.  Sir  John  Jf^lmson  first  made  an 
attack  upon  the  settlement  in  which  he  was  born. 
Some  of  his  neighbors  were  killed  anrl  others 
v/cre  taken  capMvc.  Sir  John  liimself  marchcrl  to 
Johnson  Hall.  The  faith tul  ne^rrj  slave  who 
alone  knew  of  the  buried  family  silver  had  been 
living  with  a  former  neighbor  oi  Sir  John's,  but 
had  never  disclosed  the  secret.  Assisted  by  fowr 
soldiers  he  now  dug   up  the  silver,  which  filled 


\m 


1  :    1    I 


i  '■; 


\0 


h 


296 


I5RANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


i 


two  barrels,  and,  carrying  it  upstairs,  laid  it  at 
his  master's  feet.  It  was  distributed  in  the  knap- 
sacks of  some  forty  soldiers,  whose  names  were 
taken  down,  and  thus  it  was  carried  off. 

In  August  Brant  planned  the  destruction  of  the 
settlement  at  Canajoharie,  the  home  of  his  child- 
hood. A  large  quantity  of  stores  were  being 
moved  to  Fort  Schuyler.  Hovering  around  the 
settlements,  Brant  spread  a  rumor  that  he  was 
about  to  attack  these  stores.  The  militia  in 
the  settlements  lower  down  the  Mohawk  Valley 
was  immediately  moved  to  protect  the  stores. 
Having  thus  diverted  attention.  Brant  now  passed 
around  the  convoy  and  attacked  the  unprotected 
settlements.  When  the  Indians  approached  a 
woman  gave  the  alarm  by  firing  a  cannon,  but  the 
able-bodied  men  were  nearly  all  absent,  and  there 
was  no  one  to  defend  their  homes.  Sixteen  peo- 
ple were  killed,  fifty  or  sixty  taken  pris(Miers, 
over  fifty  houses  and  as  many  barns  burned,  with 
a  mill,  a  church,  and  two  small  forts.  Fields  were 
laid  waste  and  some  three  hundred  cattle  and 
horses  driven  away.  Even  the  tools  and  arms  of 
the  farmers  were  destroyed.  The  women  and 
children  were  carried  into  captivity,  but  no  out- 
rages were  committed  upon  them.  The  rising 
smoke  was  seen  at  Johnstown,  fifteen  miles  away, 


RETALIATION. 


297 


r 


Ising 
vay, 


and  the  militia  marched  to  Canajoharic,  but  Brant 
had  already  gone  with  plunder  and  prisoners. 

The  great  blow  was  yet  to  be  struck.  About  a 
thousand  whites  and  Indians,  under  Sir  John 
Johnson,  Brant,  and  Cornplanter,  were  preparing 
to  invade  the  settlements.  Every  man  was  pro- 
vided with  eighty  rounds  of  cartridges,  and,  by 
way  of  artillery,  the  army  had  two  small  mortars 
and  a  brass  three-pounder,  which  they  called  a 
grasshopper,  because  it  was  mounted  on  legs 
instead  of  wheels.  They  moved  first  upon  the 
Schoharie  settlements.  They  slipped  by  the  upper 
fort  in  the  night  unobserved.  The  middle  fort 
was  garrisoned  by  some  two  hundred  men,  under 
JSlajor  Woolsey.  The  first  intimation  the  garrison 
had  of  the  enemy's  presence  was  the  kindling 
of  a  fire  early  on  an  October  morning  in  some 
buildings  near  at  hand.  The  firing  of  three  can- 
nons from  the  upper  fort  announced  the  discov- 
ery in  that  quarter.  The  whole  settlement  was 
soon  in  a  blaze.  The  farm-houses  and  the  barns, 
well  filled  from  a  bountiful  harvest,  were  quickly 
destroyed.  About  sunrise  the  army  began  invest- 
ing the  middle  fort.  The  "  grasshopper"  and  the 
other  artillery  were  i)lantcd  upon  high  ground 
commanding  it. 

The  garrison  was  in  a  very  poor  condition  for 


!     ^1 


5     !| 


fj 


Vi  ■   :i 

:M-  ■  < 

I'    \ 

t: 


"'~illl"ilBII 


I' 


298 


LRANT  AND    RED   JACKET. 


IM 


defence,  being  almost  entirely  destitute  of  powder. 
r.Iajor  Woolsey  was  inclined  to  surrender  imme- 
diately. It  is  said  that  this  oflficcr  was  so  cowardly 
that  he  ran  into  the  quarters  of  the  women  and 
children  to  conceal  himself  when  the  fort  was 
attacked.  The  inmates  quickly  drove  him  out  by 
their  ridicule  ;  and  it  is  related  that  he  actually 
crawled  about  the  intrenchments  on  his  hands 
and  knees,  to  the  great  merriment  of  the  soldiers, 
whose  spirits  were  much  raised  by  the  hearty 
laughter  they  enjoyed  at  the  expense  of  the  com- 
mander. The  women  in  the  fort  showed  a  great 
deal  of  courage.  A  girl,  who  observed  some  re- 
luctance in  a  soldier  who  was  ai)pointcd  to  get 
water  from  a  well  outside  the  fort,  seized  the  pail 
from  his  hands  and  walked  coolly  to  the  well 
many  times  for  water.  ' 

A  white  flag  approached  the  fort  to  demand  a 
surrender.  The  order  was  ij^iven  to  cease  firinir- 
Within  the  fort  was  the  irrepressible  Murphy. 
He  feared  lest  the  garrison  would  surrender  il 
terms  were  offered.  He  announced  his  determi- 
nation to  fire  upon  the  bearer  of  the  flag.  The 
officers  of  the  regular  troops  forbade  it,  but  the 
militia  supported  him.  Murphy  fired,  and  the 
messenger  was  forced  to  return  without  an  answer. 

The  **grasshopi)er"  and  its  companions  did  not 


RETALIATION. 


299 


wder. 

immc- 

k^ardly 

:n  and 

t   was 

out  by 

:tually 
hands 

)ldiers, 

hearty 

le  com- 

a  great 

omc  re- 
U)  get 
he  pail 
c    well 

land  a 

hring. 

Airphy. 

Inder  il 

letermi- 

Thc 

)ut  the 
Ind    the 

mswer. 

did  not 


( 


produce  much  effect.  Some  of  the  shells  fell 
short  of  the  fort,  others  went  over  it,  and  some 
exploded  in  the  air.  One  shell  fell  through  the 
roof  of  a  house  within  the  fort,  sank  into  a  feather- 
bed, and  exploded  ;  another  set  the  roof  afire,  but  a 
pail  of  water  quickly  extinguished  the  blaze. 
The  siege  was  carried  on  in  the  way  customary 
with  Indian  besiegers.  Now  the  savages  would 
attack  the  fort  from  a  distance,  again  they  were 
busied  in  plundering  and  burning  a  house  or  barn. 
There  was  one  large  barn  surrounded  with  wheat- 
stacks  near  the  fort.  Several  times  the  Indians 
tried  to  fire  this,  but  Lieutenant  Spencer  with 
forty  men  sallied  forth  and  protected  it. 

Sir  John  Johnson  did  not  know  but  that  the  fort 
was  well  garrisoned  and  supplied  with  anunuui- 
tion.  The  manner  in  which  his  flag  had  been  re- 
ceived made  him  think  that  the  garrison  was  re- 
solved to  hold  out.  He  sent  a  flag  of  truce  again 
during  the  forenoon  toward  the  fort.  Murphy 
asrain  threatened  to  shoot  at  the  bearer.  The 
regular  officers  objected  as  before ;  one  of  them 
threatened  to  run  him  through  with  his  sword  if 
he  did  it.  But  Murphy  persisted,  saying  that  he 
believed  Woolsey  intended  to  surrender  the  fort, 
and,  in  such  a  case,  he  for  one  would  certainly  not 
be  sparetl  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians.    The  militia 


-'^^sSBsaam 


300 


I{RANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


encouraged  him,  and  the  bearer  of  the  flag  again 
returned  discomtited.  Orders  were  given  for  a 
white  flag  to  be  raised  upon  the  fortifications,  but 
Murphy  threatened  to  shoot  any  man  who  made 
the  attempt.  Sir  John  finally  formed  his  forces 
under  cover  of  a  small  building  near  the  fort,  pre- 
paratory to  making  an  assault.  He  again  sent  a 
flag  toward  the  fort.  Murphy  again  raised  his 
rifle  to  shoot. 

"  Don't  shoot,"  cried  a  regular  officer. 

**  Shoot,"  commanded  a  militia  officer  standing 
at  Murphy's  side. 

The  regular  officer  began  to  draw  his  sword  on 
the  militia  officer,  but  the  latter  threatened  him 
with  the  butt  of  his  gun,  which  caused  him  to  step 
back.  Murphy  again  frightened  the  flag  away 
with  a  shot  from  his  rifle.  There  had  been  an 
attempt  to  arrest  Murphy  for  insubordination,  but 
he  was  too  great  a  favorite  with  the  militia;  they 
would  not  allow  it.  Meantime  Sir  John  called  a 
council  of  war.  The  invading  army  had  not  com- 
pleted their  plans  for  destruction,  and  they  must 
hasten  before  reinforcements  should  be  sent  to  the 
aid  (''  J  :^'Jements.  It  was  resolved  to  abandon 
the    M  -■ :  o;    I  post  so  well  defended. 

The  i!i  -.iu  .;.'  army  made  a  rapid  march  down 
;the  Schoharic-kill  to  its  junction  with  the  Moliank 


RETALIATION. 


301 


again 
for  a 
IS,  but 
made 
forces 
t,  pre- 
sent a 
ed  his 


inding 


^rd  on 
him 
o  step 
away 
en  an 
n,  but 
they 
lied  a 
com- 
must 
to  the 
[ndon 

lown 
liaak 


River.  Evcryrhing  in  their  road  met  with  de- 
struction. They  made  a  short  stand  at  the  lower 
fort,  where  they  were  attacked  by  some  sharp- 
shooters stationed  in  the  church-steeple.  They 
brought  "grasshopper"  to  bear  on  the  steeple, 
but  did  not  succeed  in  bringing  it  down,  for  they 
were  just  then  treated  to  a  shower  of  grape-shot 
from  the  fort.  They  reached  Fort  Hunter,  on  the 
Mohawk,  during  the  night,  leaving  the  Schoharie 
Valley  behind  them,  a  scene  of  desolation.  Some 
of  the  inhabitants  had  been  killed,  of  whom  a  part 
were  women  and  children  ;  some  had  fled  to  the 
woods,  and  many  were  made  captive.  The  only 
houses  which  remained  standing  were  those  be- 
longing to  Tories,  but  their  exasperated  neighbors 
did  not  long  leave  these. 

After  destroying  the  settlements  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Fort  Hunter  the  army  began  a  destruc- 
tive march  up  both  sides  of  the  Mohawk.  As 
heretofore,  houses  and  barns  were  destroyed,  in- 
habitants killed  or  taken  captive.  Major  Fonda,  a 
confidential  friend  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  had 
incurred  the  especial  enmity  of  the  loyalists  be- 
cause he  had  sided  with  the  colonies.  He  was 
absent,  but  his  mansion  was  burned,  and  property 
amounting  to  sixty  thousand  dollars  in  value  de- 
»strt)ycd.     His  wife  escaped  by  the  hclj)  of  11  dense 


4 


■'i  :  • 


IJRANT  AND    RED  JACKET. 


io^,  and  made  her  way,  twenty-six  miles  on  foot, 
to  Schencctad3\ 

When  the  invasion  was  known  at  Albany,  Gen- 
eral Van  Rensselear  marched  against  Sir  John 
Johnson  with  a  force  of  militia.  Me  ordered 
Colonel  Brown,  who  was  in  command  of  a  small 
fort  at  the  settlement  of  Stone  Arabia,  to  attack 
Johnson's  forces  in  front  while  he  attacked  in  the 
rear.  Colonel  Brown  gave  battle  as  directed,  but 
Van  Rensselear's  advance  was  impeded  in  some 
way,  and  he  was  not  there  to  support  Brown. 
The  brave  colonel  fell  with  some  forty  of  his  men, 
but  his  force  was  not  sufficient  to  accomplish  any- 
thing alone,  and  the  survivors  retreated  to  their 
fort.  The  settlement  was  immediately  destroyed, 
and  the  army  proceeded  to  a  spot  known  as 
Klock's  Field.  Here  the  men,  being  worn  out 
with  their  arduous  work  of  destruction,  and 
heavily  burdened  witli  plunder  and  provisions, 
were  forced  to  stop,  though  Van  Rensselear  was 
in  pursuit  of  them.  v 

The  general  was  unpardonably  slow  in  his 
movements.  He  had  arrived  opposite  Brown's 
battle-ground  in  the  morning  immediately  after 
the  action.  The  river  was  easily  fordable,  but 
Van  Rensselear  had  delayed  under  various  pre- 
texts.    The  army  was  finally  marched  across  on  a 


RETALIATION. 


303 


1^ 


foot, 

,  Gcn- 
John 
dered 
small 
attack 
in  the 
:;d,  but 
1  some 
Brown. 
is  men, 
sh  any- 
)  their 
roycd, 
)\vn   as 
rn   out 
1,    and 
isions, 
r  was 

in  his 
gown's 
after 
le,  but 
Is  p  re- 
Is  on  a 


bridge  made  ot  baggage- wagons,  and  this  process 
of  crossing  took  a'long  time.  Meanwhile  the  gen- 
eral was  enjoying  a  leisurely  dinner.  He  arrived 
at  the  wagon-bridge  about  four  in  the  afternoon, 
just  as  the  last  man  crossed  over.  An  Oneida 
chief  who  had  joined  the  army  with  an  Indian 
force,  impatient  of  this  delay,  shook  his  sword  at 
the  general  and  called  him  a  Tory  when  he  ap- 
peared on  the  scene.  The  American  forces  now 
marched  upon  Sir  John  Johnson,  who  was  pre- 
pared for  them.  He  was  stationed  at  a  bend 
in  the  river,  and  was  surrounded  on  three  sides 
with  water.  Across  the  front  he  had  thrown 
up  a  slight  breastwork.  Brant  and  his  Indians 
were  advantageously  posted  in  a  thicket  of  shrub- 
oak.  When  the  American  army  approached,  the 
ambushed  Indians  raised  the  war-whoop,  which 
was  answered  by  the  Oneidas  from  the  other  side. 
They  rushed  to  the  attack  of  their  own  country- 
men. Captain  M'Kean  with  some  eighty  volun- 
teers followed  the  Oneidas  in  their  attack  upon 
the  Indians.  Colonel  Dubois  also  charged  them 
with  his  regiment.  For  a  moment  they  withstood 
the  charge,  and  then  they  fled,  Brant  receiving  a 
wound  in  the  heel.  Accordinii:  to  some  accounts. 
Sir  John  fled  with  the  Indians.  The  regulars  and 
rangers  of  the  enemy,  however,  fought  bravely  for 


I      14 


11!  i 


mae% 


304 


UKANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


a  short  lime.  They  were  on  the  point  of  bcinj^ 
conquered,  when  Van  Rensselear,  in  spite  of  the 
eagerness  of  his  men  to  charge  them,  ordered  a 
cessation  of  hostilities  that  he  might  finish  the 
battle  more  advantageously  in  the  morning.  In 
the  morning  the  enemy  was  gone. 

While  the  American  forces  were  crossing  the 
river,  preparatory  to  pursuing  the  enemy,  some  of 
the  volunteers,  who  held  themselves  independent 
of  the  main  army,  were  strolling  around  and  found 
a  block-house  where  nine  of  the  enemy  where  im- 
prisoned. 

**  How  did  you  get  here  ?"  the  soldiers  ex- 
claimed. 

"  Why,  I  am  ashamed  to  tell,"  answered  one  of 
them,  a  Johnstown  loyalist.  "  Last  night,  after 
the  battle,  we  crossed  the  river.  It  was  dark.  We 
heard  the  word,  '  Lay  down  your  arms.*  Some 
of  us  did  so.  We  were  taken,  nine  of  us,  and 
marched  into  this  little  for't  by  seven  militia-men. 
We  formed  the  rear  of  three  hundred  of  Johnson's 
greens,  who  were  running  promiscuously  througti 
and  over  one  another.  I  thought  General  Van 
Rensselear's  whole  army  was  upon  us.  Why 
didn't  you  take  us  prisoners  yesterday  after  Sir 
John  ran  off  with  the  Indians  and  left  us  ?  We 
wanted  to  surrender." 


RETAMATION. 


305 


ex- 


Sir 
We 


The  British  and  Indian  army  pushed  directly 
for  Onondaga  Lake,  where  their  boats  were 
concealed.  The  American  army  followed,  the 
Oneidas  and  volunteers  having  been  sent  in  ad- 
vance. These  came  up  with  the  rear  of  Sir  John's 
army,  but  found  that  Van  Rensselear  had  given 
over  the  chase,  and  so  the  invading  army  escaped 
unmolested. 

We  have  one  incident  of  Brant's  behavior  dur- 
ing this  cruel  border  invasion.  Among  the  be- 
reaved settlers  was  a  woman  whose  husband  and 
other  friends  were  missing,  but  worst  of  all  her 
little  baby  had  been  taken  from  its  cradle.  The 
next  morning,  while  the  officers  of  Van  Rens- 
sclear's  advancing  army  were  at  breakfast,  a 
young  Indian  came  bounding  into  the  room  with 
a  baby  in  his  arms.  He  brought  a  letter  from 
Brant  addressed  "  To  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  rebel  arm}^"     It  ran: 

"  Sir :  I  send  you  by  one  of  my  runners  the 
child  which  he  will  deliver,  that  you  may  know 
that,  whatever  others  may  do,  T  do  not  make  war 
on  women  and  children.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I 
have  those  engaged  with  me  in  the  service  who 
are  more  savage  than  the  savages  themselves." 
The  child  was  found  to  belong  to  the  mourning 
mcther,  and  vv^as  restored  to  her. 


I 

■fh 


}!■■* 

m 


3o6 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


There  was  another  curious  incident  which  is 
said  to  have  happened  in  connection  with  this  ex- 
pedition. The  famous  Cornplanter,  who  com- 
manded with  Brant,  was  a  half-breed.  He  said  of 
himself:  *' When  I  was  a  child  I  played  with  the 
butterfly,  the  grasshojiper,  and  the  frogs.  i\s  I 
grew  up  I  began  to  pay  some  attention,  and  play 
with  the  Indian  boys  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
they  took  notice  of  my  skin  being  a  different  color 
from  theirs  and  spoke  about  it.  I  inquired  of  my 
mother  the  cause,  and  she  told  me  that  my  father 
was  a  resident  of  Albany." 

Cornplanter's  father  was,  in  fact,  a  trader  named 
O'Beel,  who  was  settled  down  somewhere  in  the 
Mohawk  Valley  at  the  time  of  its  invasion.  Dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  army  Cornplanter  went, 
with  a  band  of  Indians,  to  his  father's  house,  and, 
taking  him  prisoner,  marched  off  with  him.  After 
going  some  ten  or  twelve  miles  he  stopped 
abruptly,  and,  walking  up  in  front  of  his  father, 
said : 

"  My  name  is  John  O'Beel,  commonly  called 
Cornplanter.  I  am  your  son.  You  are  my  father. 
You  are  now  my  prisoner  and  subject  to  the  cus- 
toms of  Indian  warfare.  But  you  shall  not  be 
harmed.  You  need  not  fear.  I  am  a  warrior. 
Many  are  the  scalps  which  I  have  taken.     Many 


^^ 


RETALIATION. 


307 


prisoners  I  have  tortured  to  dcatli.  I  am  your 
son.  1  am  a  warrior.  I  was  anxious  to  sec  you 
and  greet  you  in  fricndsliip.  I  went  to  your  cabin 
and  took  you  by  force,  but  your  life  shall  be 
spared.  Indians  love  their  friends  and  their  kin- 
dred, and  treat  them  with  kindness.  If  now  you 
choose  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  your  yellow  son,  I 
will  cherish  your  old  age  with  plenty  of  venison, 
a'nd  you  shall  live  easy.  But  if  it  is  your  choice 
to  return  to  your  fields  and  live  with  your  white 
children,  I  will  send  a  party  of  my  trusty  young 
men  to  conduct  you  back  in  safety.  I  respect 
you,  my  father.  You  have  been  friendly  to  In- 
dians ;  they  are  your  friends." 

The  old  man  preferred  to  go  back,  and  Corn- 
planter  sent  him  with  un  Indian  escort. 


I 


i  i 


.'«■ 


l' 


i;i;(i 


i 


iiii! 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

brant's   second  visit  to   ENGLAND. 

The  destructive  war  was  at  last  over.  A  treaty 
of  peace  had  been  concluded  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  and  not  one  word 
had  been  said  in  it  about  the  Six  Nations.  Indians 
have  a  great  sense  of  their  own  dignity  and  im- 
portance. They  were  much  hurt  at  being  thus 
overh)oked  by  the  power  which  they  had  aided 
in  the  late  war.  The  Mohawks  had  left  forever 
their  own  beautiful  country  in  New  York.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  they  were  encamped  on  the 
American  side  of  the  Niagara  River.  Brant  imme- 
diately exerted  himself  to  get  a  home  for  his  peo- 
ple. The  Senecas,  who  were  very  anxious  for  the 
aid  of  the  Mohawks  in  any  future  wars,  offered  them 
a  home  in  the  Genesee  V'alley.  But  Brant  said 
the  Mohawks  were  determined  to  "  sink  or  swim" 
with  the  English.  He  refused  to  cross  the  Ameri- 
can line  for  a  home.  Brant  went  down  to  Quebec 
and  asked  of  General  Haldimand  a  grant  of  land 
on  th(^  St.  Lawrence,  at  the  entrance  of  Lake  On- 


BRANTS   SECOND   VISIT   TO    ENGLAND. 


309 


.  treaty 
Great 
le  word 
Indians 
and  im- 
ig   thus 
:1  aided 
orever 
k.     At 
on  the 
t  im me- 
ns peo- 
for  the 
id  them 
nt  said 
swim" 
Amcri- 


Kie 


|() 


bee 


f  land 


ike  On- 


tario.  Haldimand  promised  to  procure  the  land 
for  the  Mohawks,  and  Brant  returned  to  Niaga- 
ra. But  the  Senecas  were  much  disappointed  at 
the  idea  of  the  Mohawks  moving  so  far  away  from 
the  other  nations  of  the  confederacy.  Brant  again 
went  down  to  Quebec  and  requested  that  a  change 
should  be  made.  He  selected  the  Guise,  or  Grand 
River,  flowing  into  Lake  Erie.  He  asked  that  the 
Indians  might  have  a  title  to  six  miles  on  both 
sides  of  this  river,  from  its  mouth  to  its  source. 
The  grant  was  made,  and  the  Mohawks  soon  after- 
ward removed  to  their  new  home.  Their  land 
was  both  beautiful  and  fertile,  twelve  miles  wide 
and  a  hundred  miles  long. 

Brant's  life  was  not  now  spent  in  idleness.  By 
virtue  of  his  great  influence  and  superior  mind, 
he- ruled  over  his  people.  He  sought  to  supply 
their  wants,  he  labored  for  their  improvement,  he 
was  his  own  secretary,  foreign  minister,  and  am- 
bassador. The  chief  even  found  time  to  translate 
the  Gospel  of  Mark  into  Mohawk,  and  planned  to 
write  a  history  of  the  Six  Nations. 

A  charming  German  lady,  the  Baroness  De 
Riedesel,  who  had  been  made  captive  by  the 
Americans  with  her  husband,  the  general  com- 
manding the  German  mercenaries,  commonly  called 
"  Hessians,"    during    Burg;  vnie's    campaign,   met 


ll   ' 


"m 


310 


IIRANT   AND    KKI)   JACKFT. 


Vr 


I. 


4-tei     'f 


i: 
iff 


1^ 


Brant  at,  Quebec.  Slic  snys  in  lier  memoirs:  "1 
saw  at  tliat  time  the  famous  Indian  chiel,  Cajjtain 
Brant.  His  manners  are  polislied  ;  he  expressed 
liimself  with  lluency,  and  was  much  esteemed  by 
(icneral  Ilaldimand.  I  dined  with  him  once  at 
the  General's.  In  his  (bess  he  showed  off  to  ad- 
vantaj^c  the  half-mihtary  and  iialf-savai^e  costume. 
His  countenance  was  manly  and  intelligent,  and 
his  disposition  very  mild." 

Like  other  ambitious  chiefs,  Brant  })lanned,  at 
one  time,  a  confederac}^  of  the  north-western  tribes 
over  which  he  should  be  the  chief.  He  never 
succeeded  in  uniting  the  Indians,  however. 

Brant  made  a  visit  to  England  in  1785.  He  was 
received  with  the  greatest  honors  and  courted  in 
the  best  society.  He  had  already  gained  the 
friendship  of  some  of  the  nobility  in  the  Rev(jlu- 
tionary  war.  He  knew  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  after- 
wards Lord  Dorchester,  well.  Earl  Moira,  after- 
wards Marquis  of  Hastings,  had  formed  an  attach- 
ment for  Brant  and  gave  him  his  picture  set  in 
gold.  Sir  Charles  Stuart,  fourth  son  of  the"  Earl 
of  Bute,  had  often  slept  under  the  same  tent  with 
the  chief.  Lord  Percy,  who  afterwards  became 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  had  been  adopted  by 
the  Mohawks,  and  on  the  occasion  of  his  adoption 
Brant  had  given  him  the  name  of  Thorighwegeri, 


BRANTS    SKCOND    VISIT   'To    KNCr-AND. 


3n 


■s 


<( 


t 


iptain 
rcsscd 
cd  by 
II CO  at 
to  ad- 
stum  c. 
tit,  and 

ncd,  at 
1  tribes 
3  never 

He  was 
rted  in 
cd    the 
^cvolu- 
1,  after- 
a,  after- 
attach- 
set  in 
le  Earl 
lit  with 
became 
ted  by 
loption 
vvegeri, 


or  the  Kver_i4rc'(^:i  Ijiake.  Hrant,  therefore,  harl 
many  friends  in  I'jJLcland.  I  \c  was  presented  at 
c)r.:l.  lie  ivliised  to  kiss  the  kinj^'s  hand,  but 
said  that  he  would  kiss  the  hand  of  tlic(|ueen.  lie 
became  (|uitc  a  favorite  with  t  lie  royal  family.    'I'lie 


J 


rmcc  ol 


\V 


ifl. 


;ucs,  aiicrwai 


•d   C 


»eoi"^e 


IV 


wlio  was 


then  very  wild,  with  tastes  exactly  opposite  to 
those  of  his  lather,  took  a  ^ood  deal  of  pleasure 
in  the  Indian's  company.  •  He  invited  Brant  to  ^o 
with  him  on  some  of  his  rambles,  in  which  he 
visited  ])laces,  as  Br.uit  afterwards  said,  "  very 
cjueer  for  a  prince  to  j^o  to."  He  is  said  to  have 
been  a  <;uest  at  the  prince's  table  anions^  the  Whii^ 
leaders  with  whom  he  associated,  and  to  have 
learr.ed  from  their  conversatitm  to  have  less  re- 
spect for  the  kin<^  than  he  had  been  taui^ht  in 
America.  Fox  presented  Brant  with  a  silver  snuif- 
box,  with  his  initials  enjrraved  on  it. 

Brant  met,  in  society,  a  nobleman  of  whom  he 
had  heard  the  scandalous  story  that  his  honors 
were  purcliased  at  the  ex[)ense  of  the  virtue  of  his 
beautiful  wife.  This  nol)leman  rallied  Brant 
rather  rudely  u[)on  the  wild  customs  and  manners 
of  the  Indians. 

"  There  are  customs  in  Eni^land  also  which 
the  Indians  think  very  strange,"  said  the  chief, 
coolly. 


I'd!  3 


Hi 


>.» 


312 


BRANT    AND    REP    JACKET. 


P 


"And  pray  what  are  they  ?"  inquired  the  nobie- 
man. 

"  Why,  the  IncHans  have  heard,"  said  Brant, 
'*  that  it  is  a  practice  in  England  for  men  who  are 
born  chiefs  to  sell  the  virtue  of  their  squaws  for 
place  and  for  money  to  buy  their  venison." 

While  Brant  was  in  London  a  great  masquerade 
was  given,  to  which  he  was  invited.  He  needed 
no  mask.  He  dressed  himself  for  the  occasion  in 
his  rich  semi-savage  costume,  wore  his  handsome 
tomahawk  in  his  belt,  and  painted  one  half  of  his 
face  in  the  Indian  manner.  There  were  some 
Turks  also  present  at  the  ball.  One  of  them  ex- 
amined Brant  very  closely,  and  at  last  raised  his 
hand  and  pulled  the  chief's  Roman  nose,  supposing 
it  to  be  a  mask.  Instantly  Brant  gave  the  war- 
whoop  and  swung  his  glistening  tomahan'k  around 
the  Turk's  head  in  that  dangerous  way  in  which 
Indians  handle  this  instrument.  It  was  only  an 
Indian  joke,  but  the  Turk  cowered  in  abject  ter- 
ror and  the  ladies  shrieked  and  ran  as  though 
they  had  been  in  as  much  danger  as  the  settlers' 
wives  and  daughters  of  America,  who  had  dreaded 
this  same  sound  but  a  few  years  before.  i 

Brant  accomplished  his  purpose  in  visiting 
England.  Some  reparation  was  promised  the 
Mohawks  for  the  losses  they  had  sustained  in  the 


i 

m 


lobie- 

3rant, 
lo  are 
vs  for 

leradc 

leccled 

sion  in 

idsomc 
of  his 

;   some 

lem  ex- 

^ed  his 
posing 
c  war- 

larc^und 
which 
nly  an 
ct  ter- 
hough 
cttlers' 
readed 

'isiting 

id    the 

in  the 


I 


BRANTS   SECOND    VISIT   TO    ENGLAND.        313 

war.  The  chief  hoped  to  inchicc  his  Indians  to 
devote  themselves  more  to  agriculture.  His  great 
desire  now  was  to  have  a  school  and  a  church  for 
their  benefit.  He  returned  home  to  begin  his 
labors  for  the  improvement  of  his  people. 

Meantime  peace  was  not  by  any  means  settled 
between  the  Indian  nations  and  the  United  States. 
The  western  tribes  were  in  a  state  of  ferment. 
Great  Britain  still  held  her  frontier  posts,  and  her 
agents  used  their  influence  among  the  Indians  in 
favor  of  hostility.  The  western  nations  looked  to 
the  great  war-chief,  Brant,  for  advice.  Brant  thus 
retained  his  importance.  He  was  under  half-pay 
as  a  British  officer  and  received  many  presents 
from  the  government.  When  he  visited  Philadel- 
phia, then  the  capital  of  the  United  States,  the  new 
government  offered  to  double  his  salary  and 
make  him  many  presents  if  he  would  influence 
the  western  nations  for  peace.  Brant  refused  the 
offer,  knowing  that  he  would  be  accused  of  du- 
plicity if  he  received  anything  from  the  United 
States.  An  Indian  chief  loses  his  influence  quickly 
if  he  is  suspected  of  being  mercenary. 

Brant  in  fact  joined  the  western  Indians  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  Mohawks  in  the  fierce  bat- 
tle which  resulted  in  St.  Clair's  defeat.* ' 

*  *  See  "  Tecurosch"  in  this  strios. 


ifu 


111  A 


H 


3M 


I5UANT   AND    RED    JACKET. 


So  bitter  was  the  hatred  to  Brant  in  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley  that  it  was  almost  unsafe  for 
him  to  pass  through  that  part  of  the  country. 
Indeed,  while  he  was  on  his  visit  in  the  United 
States  he  was  followed  by  a  German  named 
Dygert,  some  of  whose  friends  had  fallen  at  the 
battle  of  Oriskany,  and  who  declared  that  he  would 
kill  Brant.  Colonel  VVillett  and  Colonel  Lewis, 
who  had  opposeo.  th  hief  in  this  same  battle, 
called  on  Brant  at  his  hoiel  in  New  York,  and  the 
chief  told  them  thai  he  was  followed  by  a  man 
bent  on  murdering  him. 

"  There  is  Dygert  now,"  said  Brant,  looking  out 
the  window. 

Colonel  Willett  went  down  into  the  street  and 
talked  with  the  man. 

"Do  you  know,"  said  he,  "that  if  you  kill  that 
savage  you  will  be  hanged  ?" 

"  Who  would  hang  me  for  killing  an  Indian  ?" 
exclaimed  the  man. 

"  You  will  see,"  said  Willett.  "  If  you  execute 
your  purpose,  you  may  depend  upon  it,  you  will 
be  hanged  immediately." 
I  The  man  was  frightened  by  this  bit  of  informa- 
tion, and  concluded  to  go  home  without  killing 
Brant. 

When  Brant  visited  the  United  States  in  1802 


aer- 


BRANT  S   SECOND    VISIT   TO    ENGLAND. 


315 


c  Mo- 
[e  for 
mntry. 
United 
named 

at  the 
;  would 

Lewis, 

battle, 
and  the 
'  a  man 

dng  out 

eet  and 

ill  that 

dian  ?" 

[execute 
'^ou  will 

Inform  a- 
kilUng 

lin  1802 


the  hatred  for  him  had  not  yet  died  out.  He  said 
that  he  was  insulted  by  a  "  Yankee  colonel  "  on 
the  road  between  Philadelphia  and  Jersey,  and 
the  affair  came  near  coming  to  blows.  There 
were  still  many  among  the  German  settlers  of  the 
Mohawk  Valley  who  threatened  to  kill  Brant. 
When  the  chief  was  at  Albany,  Mr.  Wells,  the 
only  survivor  of  his  family  in  the  Cherry  Valley 
massacre,  hurried  to  the  tavern  where  the  chief 
was  staying.  He  asked  for  J3rant,  and  furiously 
threatened  to  kill  him.  His  friends  remonstrated, 
but  he  was  determined  on  revenge.  Brant  was 
upstairs.  He  asked  the  cause  of  the  disturb- 
ance below,  and  was  told  that  a  young  man, 
whose  father  had  been  killed  at  Cherry  Valley, 
threatened  to  take  revenge  on  him.  Brant  drew 
himself  up  in  his  chair,  and  simply  said,  '*  Let  him 
come  on." 

The  young  man  was  finally  p)ersuaded  to  leave 
the  tavern.  Brant  was  received  with  the  greatest 
kindliness  and  appreciation  of  his  qualities  as  a 
warrior  by  American  officers.  More  than  once 
he  dined  with  veterans  of  the  Revolution,  and 
they  talked  the  battles  over  together,  comparing 
notes  from  opposite  sides.  Brant  told  General 
Gansevoort  that  during  Sullivan's  campaign  he 
was  hovering  about  him  when  the  general  had 


3i6 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


m 


'  HHi'] 

i',.:^; 

t^^m'mi' 

■|i 

IHI'l 

1  ■.? 

'  ■ 

!■:.! 

1'    ■' 

■BH  ? 

if  r 

:;  ?i 


not  supposed  he  was  anywhere  within  a  hundred 
miles. 

*'  Why,  I  roasted  my  venison  by  the  fires  that 
you  left,"  said  Brant. 

He  was  once  talking*  with  General  Philip  Van 
Courtlandt  with  regard  to  the  battle  with  Sulli- 
van's forces. 

"General,"  said  he,  "while  you  were  standing 
by  a  large  tree  during  the  battle,  how  near  to 
your  head  did  a  bullet  come  which  struck  a  little 
above  you  ?" 

The  general  thought  a  moment,  and  then  an- 
swered, "  About  two  inches  above  my  hat  " 

"  I  had  remarked,"  said  Brant,  "your  activity  in 
the  battle,  and  calling  one  of  my  best  marksmen, 
pointed  you  out  and  directed  him  to  bring  you 
down.  lie  fired,  and  I  saw  you  dodge  your  head 
at  the  instant  I  supposed  the  ball  would  strike. 
But  as  you  did  not  fall,  I  told  my  warrior  that  he 
had  just  missed  you  and  lodged  the  ball  in  the 
tree." 

Brant  was  on  very  friendly  terms  with  Aaron 
Burr.  Colonel  Burr  gave  him  a  letter  of  in- 
troduction to  his  talented  daughter  Theodosia, 
then  but  fourteen  years  old.  Her  father  said  of 
Brant  in  his  letter : 

"  He  is  a  man  of  education — speaks  and  writes 


I    1 


fiRANT  S    SKCONI)   VIST  T   TO    KXCIT.AND. 


17 


ty  in 

smen, 

you 

head 

trike. 

lat  he 

n  the 


the  English  perfectly — and  has  seen  miicli  of 
Europe  and  America.  Receive  him  with  respect 
and  hospitality.  He  h  not  one  of  those  Indians 
who  drink  rum,  but  is  quite  a  gentleman  ;  not  one 
who  will  make  you  fine  bows,  but  one  who  imdcr- 
stands  and  practices  what  belongs  to  })roi)ricty 
and  good-breeding.  He  has  daughters  ;  if  you 
could  think  of  some  little  present  to  send  to  one  of 
them — a  pair  of  earrings,  for  example — it  would 
please  him." 

Miss  Burr  received  Brant  with  great  hosp' 
tality,  and  gave  him  a  dinner-party,  to  which  sh 0 
invited  some  of  the  most  eminent  gentlemen  in 
New  York.  Several  years  afterward,  when  Theo- 
dosia  was  married,  she  and  her  husband  visited 
Brant  at  Grand  River. 


1       \\ 


i|: 


Idosia, 
id  of 


rites 


I 


fry. 


CHAPTER  XL. 


( 


m. 


m'. 


RED  JACKET,  THE  ORATOR. 

Red  Jacket  dreamed.  Mc  dreamed  that  he 
ought  to  be  a  chief,  and  that  the  Great  ^Spirit  was 
angry  that  his  people  had  not  made  him  one. 
The  announcement  of  his  dream  did  not  at  first 
have  the  desired  effect.  The  dream  was  repeated 
several  times,  when  it  happened  that  the  small- 
pox appeared  among  the  Senecas.  Behold  here 
w^as  a  judgment  upon  the  Indians  for  their  dis- 
regard of  the  Great  Spirit's  commands !  Thus 
through  superstition  and  intrigue  Red  Jacket  be- 
came a  chief. 

A  treaty  was  made  with  the  Six  Nations  on  the 
part  of  the  United  States  at  Fort  Stanwix  in  1784. 
General  Lafayette  was  present  at  this  council,  and 
was  struck  with  the  eloquence  of  Red  Jacket. 
The  warrior  Cornplanter  was  in  favor  of  peace, 
while  Red  Jacket,  the  coward,  used  all  his  elo- 
quence for  war.  But  Cornplanter  as  a  great 
brave  naturally  had  the  most  influence  in  this 
case. 


n 


RED  JACKET,  THE   ORATOR. 


319 


Aiid  now  came  a  lon^  scries  of  councils  between 
the  Americans  and  Indians.  Inevitably  wliat  re- 
mained of  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations  was 
lopped  off  from  time  to  time.  The  Indians  would 
sell  their  birthright,  as  they  considered  the  beau- 
tiful country  over  which  a  few  hundred  of  them 
roamed  and  hunted,  for  a  mess  of  pottage,  and 
there  were  plenty  ready  to  buy.  Every  such 
transaction  was  done  in  council,  and  in  council 
Red  Jacket  was  a  great  man.  There  were  always 
a  great  many  preliminaries  to  these  councils. 
Red  Jacket,  perhaps,  would  open  the  council  with 
a  speech  of  welcome  to  the  American  commis- 
sioners, thus : 

"  Brothers !  You  have  travelled  long,  with  tears 
in  your  eyes  on  account  of  the  bad  roads  and  bad 
season  of  the  year.  Besides  the  disturbances  be- 
tween the  bad  Indians  and  our  brothers  the  white 
people,  everythmg  has  been  trying  to  prevent 
your  coming  and  to  stop  your  business  and 
make  you  lose  your  way.  Thus  the  big  waters 
might  have  stopped  your  coming,  and  the  wars 
might  have  stopped  you,  and  sickness  might  have 
stopped  you.  .  .  .  But  how  could  it  be  that 
anything  bad  could  have  happened  to  you  while 
you  have  such  important  business  to  transact  as 
we  understand  you  have   come  on  !     You   must 


320 


BRANT  AM)    Rl'.D   JACKKT. 


I 


I 


wipe  away  those  tears  occasioncrl  by  all  the  p^rcat 
dangers  you  have  eoiiie  thr()u<j^h.  And  now  we 
set  you  on  a  seat  where  you  can  sit  up  straight, 
and  a  seat  where  you  are  secure  from  the  fears  of 
your  enemies,  where  you  can  look  around  and  see 
all  your  friends  and  brothers  in  peace.  Besides, 
you  have  come  along  with  your  heart  and  your 
throat  st()i)ped  up  to  keep  all  that  you  had  U)  say 
in  your  body.  But  now  we  open  your  heart  witii 
your  brother's  hands,  and  we  run  our  fingers 
through  to  open  your  mouth  that  you  may  speak 
clear. 

A  great  council  wms  held  by  the  United  States 
with  the  Six  Nations  in  1794.  Sixteen  hundred 
Indians  attcnd:;d  this  council.  Colonel  Pickering, 
the  conmiissioner  from  the  government,  had  hrst 
to  console  the  Indians  for  the  loss  of  one  of  their 
brothers,  who  had  been  killed  by  a  white  man. 
According  to  Indian  custom,  he  hguratively  bur- 
ied the  dead  and  covered  his  grave  with  leaves, 
that  it  might  be  no  more  seeji  in  passing.  He 
had  removed  the  tomahawk  from  the  dead  man's 
head,  and  no\v  he  tore  up  a  great  pine-tree,  in 
'  pantomime.  Underneath  this  he  dug  a  deep  hole, 
in  which  he  placed  the  hatchet,  on  top  of  which 
he  placed  stones,  and  over  all  planted  the  tree. 
Colonel  Pickering   finally  wiped  the  blood   from 


MMMMMM 


first 

their 

man. 

bur- 

3UVCS, 

lie 

man's 

te,  in 

hole, 

hich 

tree. 

I  from 


RED    JACKET,  'II IK    ORAroR. 


321 


the  Indians'  heads,  removed  the  tears  from  their 


eyes,  and  opened  tiie  path  ol  peace. 

On  the  foUowins^  (hiy  the  celebrated  fanatic, 
jemima  Wilkinson,  thrust  herself  into  the  coniicil 
with  some  oflicr  followers.  She  professed  to  be 
the  world's  Saviour  at  his  second  appearance  upon 
earth,  and  was  livin<^  in  the  wx'stern  i)art  of  New 
York  State  with  her  proselytes.  vShe  is  said  to 
have  dwelt  in  hue  style,  with  half  a  dozen  beautiful 
maidens  to  w^ait  on  her.     When  she  preached  she 


>tood 


iber-d( 


joat, 


'  wearmg-  a  wais 
stock,  and  white  silk  cravat.     There  is  an  anec- 

)te  of  Brant  with  re<^ard  to  Jemima  Wilkinson. 
A  his  chief  had  some  desire  to  sec  the  sin^^ular 
woman,  and  she  was  of  course  flattered  to  have 
an  interview  with  him.  When  they  met,  she  bej^an 
a  conversation  with  him.  Brant  immediately  an- 
swered her  b}^  a  long  speech  in  Mohawk.  When 
he  had  done,  she  told  him  that  she  did  not  under- 
stand the  language.  Brant  then  began  to  talk 
volubly  in  another  Indian  dialect.  Somewhat 
disconcerted,  Jemima  objected  that  she  could  not 
understand  him.  He  tried  another  dialect,  but 
she  could  not  comprehend  this.  He  then  began 
in  a  fourth  dialect,  and  she  interrupted  him,  much 
displeased. 

"Madam,"  said  Brant,   rising,  and  this  time  in 


If 


■■■•li 


I 


^ii 


UKANl    ANh    Ulh    I A(  Kl   I 


li 


lMU|lish.  "  \  n\»    ;\ir  \\o\  ihr   pci'm*  \  nu   pnliiitl    Id 

Wrll  M';  :\t\.>tl\ri ."      \{  ll\is  he  IrM   her. 

riu'.  w  <MU;\n  now  (l\n«^(  hiM^rll  ii|m>h  iltc  ttMIM- 
I'll.  AlI'M  a  sprrrh  h  nm  llu-  rliirl  I'isli  (iHliri, 
an<l  i\\\  i\\U\\VHS  \\  o\\\  M  «lrlot|!>lion  nl  pn;ilviMs  w  Im 
won^  |>iostM<t.  Joiwitnn  m\il  lui  Inllnvvcm  iIh>|i|hmI 
iip.^n  \hv\\  knocks  muiI  tnndr  m  piM\ri .  mIIci  w  hi*  li 
s)\v'  ;h]\h  ss^^i  llu^  liuli;\ns  wilh  ;i  mrillr\  nl  S(  lip, 
!inv  <CN<s  atul  \;\ono  iilcus  »>l  hn  o\\j».  Whni  llu» 
iHMUU'ii  as:^;nti  «>p(m\(m1  xm  [\\v  lollowiiiLV  <la\,  il)(» 
luvh.m  wonuMi  nH)uos(iHl  lo  l>(>  lu';n«l.  riir\  \vri(» 
u^trovi\U(  vl  b\  \\Vi\  .l;hkrl.  who  was  cvidctillv 
\^\n(o  a  tavoiilo  with  \\\c  sipiaws.  as  lluv  always 
ihoso  h\u\  to  sp(\ik  lot  thiiw  in  atw  tualln  in 
whivh  t]u\\  ha^i  a  voivv.  Ht^  i\ow  saiil  lot  |I\(>im 
tbat  thcv  wvshod  to  tiMwaiU  that  thrv  liillv  aiMccd 
\vit]\  thoir  sav'honis  that  tho  wlutc  poopli>  had 
oausod  tho  trv>viMos  ol  the  Indians.  \\w  wliili* 
jHN^)>lo  havl  sqiuHvcd  thtan  together  mitil  it  i;a\c 
thoni  a  pain  at  thoir  hearts,  and  tlicv  tlunii;ht  \\\c 
white  ix\>ple  iHiiihl  to  i;ivv'  bark  all  the  lands 
whieh  thev  had  taken.  One  ol  the  while  women, 
s^^id  Red  Jacket,  had  told  the  Indians  to  repent  al 
tho  last  meetinii".  and  tho  Indian  women  now  (\dled 
on  tho   white  jx\>ple  to  repent,   h  .    they   needed 


iTix'ntancc  as  much  as  the  India 


ns. 


11 


le  eoininis- 


rm 


ki'.h  JA(  kivi,  (Mr.  oiiAfoM, 


J 'J 


siniiri  lli(Uil<rfl  IIm-  hiflijiii  woMirii  for  (Ik  ir  <;|ir^rlf, 
iiidI  Miiid  fli.'il  Im-  wmmM  ;iIw;iv^  Uc  >^I;i'I  f'»  li'.ir 
llolii  ;Im'IM,  hut  lli:il  tlir  vvliih*  wntfi;i>i  wito  li;i'l 
Hpnkf  II     yrqlrKhiy     ItJi'l    loM  cd     lirfsclf     info     Mi' 


('(MiiH  il  i«i2iMiml  his  wish 


\) 


iiriiit'    the   ((MMk  il    u  rri.iii   ri;irrM-' 


I    h,f 


Ifl'.OM     ,'![> 


|»('iii(i|    ;is    ;i    iiic^^di^Mi     hnni      IJianf.        Ih     lirhl 


H(M  icl  r<  Mihi  ciMc^  ;imoiij^  thr 


hwl 


i;in«;,  mikI  rniri^hr 


I 


wilh  (hem  <liiiiii|^  Ihc  (oiiiKil  in  n  way  fhat  r;x- 
<;il(Ml  llic  Himpiciuim  «»l  Ihr  Airu'rican  (:ofnrriisHiofi<;r. 
Mr  (hiKiiiiiccd  Ihc  man  aH  a  IJritish  S|»y.  Ih^;  ffi- 
(lians  appeared  ^n(',\\\y  ^|^|Mi^rf|.  ( 'ornplanter 
lose  and  said  thai  il  was  ash>nishin^^  that  surfi  an 
I'lntipalhy  evislfd  hetwecn  the  Arn'  rir;afis  and  I'/nj/- 
lish    thai    they    eoiihl    nf>t    hear    to   sit,    fKar    ea(;h 


nlhei   in  an 


hid 


tan  conneil 


II 


e  said  that  the  mc<i. 


seii|Mi   had   nieicly  come,  to  remind  the,    ln(harjs  of 
a  ^real  (  oimeil  to  ]>('  held  at  a  fiitnre-  time. 

"Captain  iiiant,"  added  ( "orn  planter ,  "  sends  his 
compliments   to    the   chiefs  at    ( 'anandaif^iia,  and 


says 


'on   reme,ml)(;r  w 


hat 


we  airreco  ur^on 


I 


la!^fc 


year,  and  the  line  we   marked  out.      If  tfiis  line  h 
complied    with,  p(;aer^  will  take  place;'  and  lie  de- 


sires us  to  mention 


this  I 


lere 


Colonel    I'iekerinp^  knew  well   wliat   this  meant. 
Brant  had  recently  taken  part  in  the   Indian  war 


o 


f  ti 


le  w 


estern  nations.     lie  aLrrecd  with  tficm  in 


324 


BRANT  AND   REP  JACKET. 


claiming  the  Ohio  River  for  a  boundary-line  be- 
tween the  whites  and  Indians,  and  he  wished  the 
Six  Nations  to  do  so  in  this  treaty.  The  Indians 
had  been  very  successful  in  routing  the  armies  oi 
Ilarmcr  and  of  St.  Clair,  and  they  were  now  very 
arrogant  in  their  claims.  Colone'  Pickering  was 
very  angry  to  have  his  council  thus  interfered 
with  by  the  British,  as  he  considered  't.  He  made 
a  very  vehement  speech. 

"The  council-fire  grows  warm,"  remarked  the 
Indians.     "  The  sparks  fly  about  very  thick." 

They  requested  the  withdrawal  of  the  white  men 
for  a  short  time,  that  they  might  have  a  consulta- 
tion. In  about  half  an  hour  they  opened  the  coun- 
cil-door again  and  Cornplanter  rose  to  speak.  He 
said  that  the  Indians  had  discovered  that  the  white 
peo})le  had  told  them  a  lie  when  they  said  the 
chain  of  friendship  had  been  renewed  between 
England  and  Americo. 

"  What  shall  we  dt?"  said  Cornplanter.  ''Shalt 
we  shove  Johnson  off?  Yet  this  is  not  agreeable 
t(^  my  mind  ;  for  if  I  had  kindled  a  council-fire, 
I  would  suffer  a  very  bad  man  to  sit  in  it  that  he 
mij^ht  be  made  better." 

The  chiefs  finally  prepared  a  letter  to  Brant 
whicii  tficy  read  in  council.  They  said  in  this 
tliat  they  were  surrv  that  Johnson  had  not  been 


RED  JACKET,  THE  ORATOR. 


325 


Shalt 
able 
-fire, 
It  he 

>rant 

this 

t)ecn 


permitted  to  remain  in  council,  that  he  would  ex- 
plain the  reason  why,  that  they  were  determined 
to  adhere  to  the  boundary -lines  as  they  had  agreed 
with  him,  and  that  they  were  "a  poor,  desi)iscd 
though  still  an  independent  people,  brought  into 
suffering  between  two  white  nations  striving  which 
should  be  the  greatest."  Colonel  Pickering  was 
not  at  all  pleased  with  this  letter.  The  sparks 
again  flew  about  the  council,  but  before  the  mat- 
ter was  settled  a  Tuscarora  runner  came  in  with 
the  intelligence  of  Wayne's  great  victory  over  the 
western  Indians.  Immediately  matters  took  a  dif- 
ferent turn.  Success  had  its  usual  effect  on  the 
Indians. 

Cornplanter,  however,  came  into  trouble  next, 
probably  through  the  intrigues  of  Red  Jacket, 
who  had  an  old  spite  against  his  brother -chief. 
Cornplanter  had  had  many  private  interviews  with 
the  commissioner,  and  this  excited  the  suspicion 
of  the  Indians.  A  chief  named  Little  Billy  re- 
buked Cornplanter  for  taking  so  important  a  part 
in  the  councils  when  he  was  a  war -chief.  Corn- 
planter  was  on  the  point  of  returning  home,  but 
Colonel  Pickering  interfered  in  his  favor. 

When  the  commissioner  came  to  the  main  busi- 
ness of  the  council,  that  of  settling  the  boundary- 
lines.  \ic(\  Jacket  said  : 


■.iij 


>■ 


jii 


t:,l 


!"  • 


V.      *l 


■^'  ^'^- 


326 


BRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


Ih  \ 


'*  We  told  you  before  of  the  two  rusty  places  on 
the  chain  of  friendship.  .  .  .  We  thought  you 
had  a  sharp  file  to  take  off  the  rust,  but  we  be- 
lieve it  must  have  been  dull,  or  else  you  let  it  slip 
out  of  your  hands.  .  .  .  Although  we  are  but 
children,  we  are  sharp -sighted,  and  we  can  see 
you  want  that  strip  of  land  along  the  lake  shore 
for  a  road,  that  when  you  have  vessels  on  the 
lakes  you  may  have  harbors.  .  .  .  You  are 
cutting  off  our  land  piece  by  piece.  You  are  a 
kind-hearted  people  —  seeking  your  own  advan- 
tages. .  .  .  We  have  told  you  of  the  rusty 
part  which  the  file  passed  over  without  brighten- 
ing, and  we  wish  you  to  take  up  the  file  again  and 
rub  it  very  hard." 

The  colonel  told  the  Indians  that  it  was  very 
necessary  to  have  the  strip  of  land  along  the  lake 
shore  for  harbors,  but  that  the  Indians  were  to 
have  a  large  increase  in  their  annuities  for  it,  and 
that  other  concessions  would  be  made. 

"  Now  we  are  conversing  together  to  make  the 
chain  bright,"  answered  Red  Jacket.  "  When  we 
told  you  what  would  give  us  satisfaction,  you  pro- 
posed reserving  the  piece  of  land  between  Cayuga 
and  Buffalo  Creek  for  building  houses,  but  we  ap- 
prehend you  would  not  only  build  houses  but 
towns.      You  told  us  these  houses  ivould  be  for 


RED  JACKET,  THE   ORATOR. 


327 


I  and 

very 

lake 

;re  to 

t,  and 

:e  the 
m  we 
[I  pro- 
^yiiga 
re  ap- 
but 
for 


the  accommodation  of  travellers  in  the  winter,  as 
they  cannot  go  by  water  in  that  season,  and  the 
travellers  would  want  a  staff  to  help  them  along 
the  road.  .  .  .  We  conclude  that  we  do  not 
understand  this  as  the  white  people  do.  If  we 
consent  to  your  proposals,  we  know  it  will  injure 
us.  If  these  houses  should  be  built,  they  will  tend 
to  scatter  us  and  make  us  fall  in  the  street  by 
drinking  to  excess.  .  .  .  As  soon  as  the  white 
people  come  there,  they  will  think  the  land  theirs ; 
for  that  is  the  way  of  white  people.  ...  I  see 
there  are  many  of  your  people  here  now  watching 
with  their  mouths  open  to  take  up  this  land.  If 
you  are  a  friend  to  us,  then  disappoint  them.  Our 
patience  is  spent.     Comply  with  our  request." 

Colonel  Pickering  made  some  concessions.  The 
matter  was  finally  settled,  and  the  great  council 
broke  up. 

Though  the  Indians  were  constantly  selling 
their  lands,  they  still  dreaded  the  gradual  en- 
croachments of  white  settlers.  Red  Jacket,  in  all 
the  councils,  opposed  all  land  sales,  and  acquired 
great  popularity  by  this  means,  while  Cornplanter, 
who  honestly  favored  the  sales,  incurred  all  the 
blame  when  the  Indians  came  afterwards  to  rcirret 
the  loss  of  their  lands. 

"  We  stand  on  a  small  island  in  the  bosom  of 


328 


nUANT  AND    RED  JACKET. 


the  great  waters,"  said  Red  Jacket  in  one  of  his 
speeches.  "  We  are  encircled,  we  are  encompassed. 
The  evil  spirit  rides  upon  the  blast,  and  the  waters 
are  disturbed.  They  rise,  they  press  upon  us,  and 
the  waves  once  settled  over  us,  wc  disappear  for- 
ever. Who  then  lives  to  mourn  us  ?  None.  What 
marks  our  extermination  ?     Nothing." 

Red  Jacket  often  excited  his  Indian  audience  to 
the  highest  pitch  by  such  outbursts  as  this.  At 
one  council  Mr.  Thomas  Morris,  who  was  acting 
for  the  company  which  desired  to  purchase  the 
land  of  the  Senecas,  remarked  that  their  lands 
were  of  little  value  in  their  present  uncultivated 
state.  Red  Jacket  admitted  that,  but  said  that  it 
was  the  knowledge  of  ownership  which  the  In- 
dians valued. 

"  That  knowledge  is  everything  to  us,"  said  he. 
"  It  raises  us  in  our  own  estimation.  It  creates  in 
our  bosoms  a  proud  feeling  which  elevates  us  as  a 
nation.  Observe  the  difference  between  the  esti- 
mation in  which  a  Seneca  and  an  Oneida  are  held. 
We  are  courted,  while  the  Oneidas  are  considered 
a  degraded  people,  fit  onl}^  to  make  brooms  and 
baskets.  Why  this  difference  ?  It  is  because  the 
Senecas  are  known  as  the  owners  of  a  broad  do- 
main, while  the  Oneidas  are  cooped  up  in  a  nar- 
row space." 


RED   JACKET,  THE    ORATOR. 


329 


The  commissioners  who  accompanied  Mr.  Mor- 
ris at  last  became  impatient  of  tlie  loni^  dehiy  of 
the  Indian  proceedings.  At  their  desire,  Mr. 
Morris  tried  to  brimi:  matters  to  a  close,  lie 
answered  a  proposal  on  the  part  of  the  Indians, 
saying  it  would  be  better  to  rake  up  the  council- 
fire  at  once  than  to  accept  such  a  proposition. 
Red  Jacket  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"  You  have  now  arrived  at  the  point  to  which  I 
wished  to  bring  you.  You  told  us  in  your  first 
address  that  even  in  the  event  of  our  not  agreeing 
to  sell  our  lands,  we  woidd  part  friends.  Mere, 
then,  is  my  hand.  I  now  cover  up  the  council- 
fire." 

Applauding  yells  arose  from  the  Indians.  It 
was  a  most  i)opular  act  on  the  part  of  Red  Jacket, 
and  just  what  the  connnissioners  had  least  of  all 
wished.  After  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  the  in- 
tervention of  the  Indian  women,  wdio  were  aj)- 
pealed  to  and  appeased  with  [)resents,  the  council 
was  reopened.  Red  Jacket,  however,  did  not 
again  attend  it.  He  was  drunk  during  the  rest  of 
the  proceedings,  for  the  orator  was  entirely  too 
fond  of  liquor.  He  left  the  responsibility  of  the 
inevitable  course  of  the  council  upon  Cornplanter. 
When  Red  Jacket  talked  with  the  other  chiefs,  he 
still  kept  up  his  opposition  to  any  sale.     He  visit- 


- 


ill 


330 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


I 


ed  Mr.  Morris's  lodge,  however,  secretly  at  night, 
and  told  him  that  in  truth  he  had  no  objections  to 
the  sales,  but  that  he  would  lose  his  popularity  if 
he  did  not  oppose  them. 

The  council  was  finally  successful.  The  sale 
was  made  of  a  great  part  of  the  Seneca  lands ;  a 
treaty  was  drawn  up  and  ready  to  be  signed  by 
the  chiefs.  Now  it  was  Red  Jacket's  especial  pride 
to  have  his  name  stand  upon  every  treaty  with  his 
nation,  whether  he  was  in  favor  of  it  or  not.  In 
council  he  grandly  refused  to  put  his  name  on  the 
document  in  order  to  appear  consistent,  but  he 
privately  arranged  with  Mr.  Morris  to  insert  his 
signature  afterwards.  He  wanted  a  blank  left  for 
him,  and  was  especially  anxious  that  it  should  be 
near  the  top,  in  order  that  President  Washington 
might  see  that  he  was  a  man  of  importance  among 
the  Indians. 

In  spite  of  his  political  intrigues.  Red  Jacket 
made  an  ostentation  of  being  the  most  truthful  of 
men.  During  one  council  the  commissioner  was 
occupied  in  taking  notes  while  the  chief  spoke. 
He  paused  in  the  middle  of  a  sentence. 

"Look  up  from  the  table,  brother,"  said  the 
orator,  "  and  fix  your  eyes  upon  my  eyes,  that  you 
may  see  that  what  Sagoyewatha  says  is  the  truth 
and  no  lie." 


RED  JACKET,  THE  ORATOR. 


331 


m 


During  one  Indian  council  Mr.  Morris  was 
adopted  by  the  Indians,  and  Red  Jacket  gave  him 
his  old  name,  Otetiani.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed one  beautiful  night  when  the  moon  was  at 
her  full.  It  was  also  the  occasion  of  the  Iroquois 
festival  to  the  moon.  The  immense  concourse  of 
Indians,  among  whom  was  the  newly -adopted 
white  man,  seated  themselves  upon  the  ground  in 
a  circle.  Fish  Carrier,  a  very  old  Cayuga  chief, 
who  was  greatly  venerj^ed  for  his  bravery  and 
wisdom,  made  a  long  address  to  the  moon,  throw- 
ing tobacco  into  the  fire  from  time  to  time  as  in- 
cense. At  the  close  of  the  speech  they  all  threw 
themselves  upon  the  earth  and  made  a  grunting 
sound.  A  war-dance  was  then  begun  around  a 
post,  which  represented  the  torture -stake.  The 
young  warriors  who  performed  the  dance  were 
naked  except  for  their  breech-cloth,  and  their  backs 
were  chalked  white  and  ornamented  with  streaks 
of  red.  Every  once  in  a  while  one  of  them  would 
snatch  a  blazing  brand  from  the  fire  and  thrust  it 
at  the  post  as  though  torturing  a  prisonor.  Mean- 
while they  drank  freely  of  raw  rum.  They  soon 
began  singing  their  war -songs  and  boasting  of 
their  deeds  of  prowess  and  the  scalps  they  had 
taken.  Among  the  dancers  was  an  Oneida.  He 
struck  the  post  and  boasted  of  the  scalps  his  na- 


wi 


:;|! 


Hi 


332 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


tion  hud  taken  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Instantly  the  Senecas  began  boasting  of  the  scalps 
they  had  taken  from  the  Oncidas  during  the 
same  war,  and  taunting  them  as  cowards.  The 
old  bitter  feelings  were  awakened.  Knives  and 
tomahawks  were  drawn  forth,  and  the  quarrel 
seemed  likely  to  have  a  serious  ending,  when 
Fish  Carrier  ran  forward.  He  struck  the  post 
violently,  and  said : 

"You  are  all  of  you  at  parcel  of  boys.  When 
you  have  attained  my  age,  and  performed  the 
warlike  deeds  that  I  have  performed,  you  may 
boast  what  you  have  done :  not  till  then."  Ho 
then  threw  down  the  post  and  broke  up  the  dance. 


I' 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

liKD  JACKET   TRIED   FOR   WITCIICRAF'l". 

Red  Jacket  visited  Philadelphia  in  1792. 
While  there,  President  Washing-ton  presented  him 
with  a  large  silver  medal,  on  whieh  Washington, 
in  military  clothes,  was  represented  as  handing* 
a  peace-pipe  about  four  feet  long  to  a  conven- 
tional Indian  with  a  tuft  of  plumes,  growing  out 
of  the  top  of  his  head,  while  a  white  man  was 
ploughing  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  in  the  background. 
Indians  prefer  ornaments  of  silver  to  gold,  for 
they  are  more  becoming  to  their  red  skin.  Red 
Jacket  prized  this  medal  very  highly.  He  wore 
it  on  all  state  occasions.  Nevertheless,  sad  to  re- 
late, the  beloved  medal  was  more  than  once  in 
pawn  for  whiskey. 

While  in  Philadelphia,  each  member  of  the  depu- 
tation of  chiefs,  of  which  Red  Jacket  was  one,  was 
presented  with  a  military  suit  and  cocked  hat  by 
General  Knox  on  the  part  of  the  government. 
When  Red  Jacket's  suit  was  offered  him  he  sent 
back  word  to  General  Knox  that  he  could  not 


til! 


H 


iii:;' 


334 


imANT  AND   RET)  JACKET. 


wear  sucli  a  suit,  for  he  was  not  a  warrior  but  a 
peace-chief.  He  requested  that  a  citizen's  suit 
mi^^ht  be  j^ivcn  him ;  meantime  lie  would  keep  the 
military  suit  until  he  received  the  other.  When  a 
suit  of  plain  clothes  was  broujj^ht  him,  Red  Jacket 
accepted  it,  but  refused  to  give  up  the  military 
suit,  saying  that  though  he  could  not  now  wear 
the  military  suit,  when  war  came  he  would  join 
the  warriors  and  then  he  could  wear  it  with  pro 
l)riety. 

When  Red  Jacket  returned  from  his  visits  to 
the  capital  he  was  accustomed  to  exaggerate  the 
honors  with  which  he  had  been  received  by  Wash- 
ington, in  order  to  impress  the  Indians  with  his 
importance.  He  would  gather  his  admirers 
around  him,  and  would  play  over  the  whole  scene 
of  his  reception  like  a  child.  At  one  time  he  ar- 
ranged the  Indians  in  a  semicircle,  and,  taking  thj 
cocked  hat  which  had  been  given  to  him,  went 
around  the  company  bowing  to  the  Indians  and 
representing  President  Washington.  He  then  re- 
peated various  compliments  which  he  pretended 
the  President  had  made  to  him. 

Cornplanter,  about  this  time,  began  to  find  that 
he  was  losing  all  his  influence  among  the  Indians. 
Using  a  favorite  trick  of  the  savages,  he  tried  to 
retrieve  his  loss  and  at  the  same  time  overthrow 


RKD   JACKET   TUIKD    TOK    WTTCIICKAKT.       335 


but  a 

suit 
p  the 
hen  a 
ackct 
litary 
wear 
d  join 
h  pro- 
sits  to 
Ltc  the 
Wash- 
lith  his 
mirers 
scene 
he  ar- 
pg  th  J 
,  went 
s  and 
en  re- 
ended 

d  that 

Idians. 

ied  to 

throw 


his  clanjj;"er()us  rival,  lie  persuaded  his  Ijrotlicr  t(j 
become  a  pr()[)het.  The  piophet  be^an  1)\  preach- 
in<^  morality.  He  was  so  successful  as  to  induce 
the  Onondau^as,  who  had  been  great  drinkers,  to 
give  up  drinkini;-  almost  entirely.  He  fuially  be 
gan  to  work  upon  the  superstitions  of  tlie  Indians. 
lie  pointed  out  several  witches  among  them. 
Such  was  their  superstition  that  these  would  have 
been  summarily  executed  had  not  white  people 
interfered  in  their  behalf.  Last  of  all  the  impostor 
pounced  upon  Red  Jacket  as  a  witch.  The  excite- 
ment ran  so  high  that  the  chief's  life  was  in  great 
danger.  lie  was  tried  in  solemn  council.  Very 
likely  he  was  accused  of  spitting  lii-e  at  night  or 
some  other  wizard's  performance.  At  any  rate, 
Red  Jacket  arose  and  made  his  own  defence. 
For  three  hours  he  spoke  with  the  most  wonderful 
eloquence,  moving  the  Indians  in  spite  of  them- 
selves. They  were  divided.  A  bare  majority 
was  in  favor  of  Red  Jacket,  and  his  life  was  saved. 
J^  Jacket  was  not  above  the  same  super- 
♦^'  ',  however.  Though  he  did  not  believe 
^i«i  olf  to  be  a  witch,  he  caused  the  execution 
t)f  at  least  one  Indian  for  witchcraft.  Later 
in  his  hfe  ^  ^  had  occasion  to  defend  the  In- 
dians for  tl  r  belief  in  withcraft.  A  Seneca 
Indian  hac      med   and  died,  apparently  without 


INK* 


I 


1 


.!!r 


336 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


cause.  Indian  medicine -men  with  their  pow- 
wows could  do  him  no  good.  The  woman  who 
had  nursed  him  was  decided  to  be  a  witch.  She 
fled  into  Canada.  She  was  followed  by  the  In- 
dians ;  a  trial  was  held  among  them,  and  she  was 
pronounced  guilty  and  brought  back  into  the 
Seneca  country.  The  heart  of  the  Indian  who 
was  appointed  to  execute  her  failed  him.  A  chief, 
known  as  Tommy  Jemmy,  took  the  duty  upon 
himself  and  killed  the  woman.  The  white  settlers 
were  shocked  at  the  murder,  and  Tommy  Jemmy 
was  arrested  and  thrown  into  prison  at  Buffalo. 
His  trial  produced  a  great  deal  of  excitement. 
The  defence  held  that  the  woman  had  been  exe- 
cuted according  to  the  laws  of  the  Indians,  with 
which  the  whites  had  no  right  to  interfere.  Red 
Jacket,  who  was  naturally  an  advocate,  and  more 
than  once  pleaded  the  cause  of  an  Indian  in  a 
court  of  law,  was  called  as  a  witness  and  exam- 
ined with  regard  to  Indian  laws  and  customs. 
The  counsel  tor  the  prosecution,  wishing  to  ex- 
clude his  testimony,  asked  *Red  Jacket  if  he  be- 
lieved in  a  God. 

"  More  truly  than  one  can  who  could  ask  me 
such  a  question,"  indignantly  answered  the  chief. 

He  was  also  asked  what  wank  he  held  among 
the  Indians. 


RED   JACKET   TRIED    FOR   WITCHCRAFT.       337 


pow- 
i  who 
She 
:ie  In- 
le  was 
:o   the 
Li  who 
k  chief, 
J  upon 
settlers 
Jemmy 
Butfalo.   . 
itement. 
en  exc- 
els, with 
Red 
,d  more 
n   in  a 
exam- 
istoms. 
to  ex- 
he  be- 

tisk  me 

chief. 

(among 


"  Look  at  the  papers  which  the  white  men  keep 
the  most  carefully ;  they  will  tell  you  what  I  am," 
Red  Jacket  sarcastically  answered,  referrinj^  to 
the  treaties  by  which  the  whites  had  acquired 
their  lands.  During  his  examination  the  chief 
saw  that  the  lawyers  and  bystanders  were  ridi- 
culing the  Indian  superstition. 

"What!  "  burst  out  Red  Jacket,  who  knew  more 
than  they  thought  he  did.  "  Do  you  Jenounce  us 
as  bigots  and  fools  because  we  still  believe  that 
which  you  yourselves  believed  two  centuries  ago  ? 
Your  black -coats  thundered  this  doctrine  from 
the  pulpits,  your  judges  pronounced  it  from  the 
bench  and  sanctioned  it  with  the  formalities  of 
law ;  and  would  you  now  punish  our  unfortunate 
brother  for  adhering  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers 
and  of  yours  ?  Go  to  Salem  !  Look  at  the  rec- 
ords of  your  own  government,  and  you  will  find 
that  hundreds  have  been  executed  for  the  very 
crime  which  has  called  forth  the  sentence  of  con- 
demnation against  this  woman  and  drawn  down 
upon  her  the  arm  of  vengeance.  What  have  our 
brothers  done  more  than  the  rulers  of  your  people 
have  done?  What  crime  has  this  man  committed 
by  executing  in  a  oummary  way  the  laws  of  his 
country  and  the  command  of  the  Great  Spirit  ?" 
The  prisoner  was  in  the  end  liberated. 


W^ 


\ 


\i 


\ 


\'-'i 


338 


BRANT  AND  RED  JACKET. 


1,1 


Meantime  Cornplanter's  influence  waned  more 
and  more  after  Red  Jacket's  victory  over  him  in 
the  matter  of  witchcraft.  He  lived  to  a  very  old 
age,  but  he  finally  resigned  his  chieftainship  in  a 
very  odd  way.  It  was  one  of  the  strange  customs 
among  the  Iroquois  to  guess  dreams.  An  Indian 
with  a  melancholy  face  would  go  from  cabin  to 
cabin  and  ask  the  inmates  to  guers  a  dream  which 
he  had  had.  If  they  gave  him  an  interpretation 
which  suited  him,  he  would  accept  it  and  act 
accordingly.  Cornplanter  had  a  dream  which 
puzzled  him.  Almost  naked  in  midwinter,  he 
went  from  house  to  house  to  have  his  dream 
guessed.  On  the  third  day  he  found  an  Indian 
who  said :  ^ 

"  You  shall  henceforth  be  called  Onono,  or  cold. 
You  have  been  a  chief  long  enough  for  the  good 
of  your  nation.  You  have  grown  too  old  to  be  of 
much  further  use  as  counsellor  or  warrior,  and 
you  must  appoint  a  successor.  If  you  wish  to 
please  the  Great  Spirit,  you  must  remove  from 
your  house  and  sight  every  article  made  by  the 
white  man." 

Cornplanter  listened  earnestly  and  accepted  this 
as  the  interpretation  of  his  dream.  The  presents 
which  he  had  received  from  the  various  Presi- 
dents of  the  United  States  he  Collected  together, 


aned  more 
,ver  bim  in 
)  a  very  old 
ainship  m  a 
ige  customs 
An  Indian 
om  cabin  to 
:^ream  which 
iiterpretation 

t  it  and  act 
iream  which 
lidwinter,  he 
^e  his  dream 
ind  an  Indian 

[nono,  or  cold, 
for  the  good 

)0  old  to  be  of 
warrior,  and 
you  wish  to 
remove  from 
made  by  the 

accepted  this 

The  presents 

rarious   Presi- 

Icted  together, 


RED   JACKET   TRIED    FOR   WITCHCRAFT.       339 

among  which  were  a  military  suit,  a  sword,  and  a 
medal.  He  solemnly  burned  them  all.  His  toma^ 
hawk  only  he  reserved,  and  sent  it  to  the  Indian 
whom  he  had  chosen  as  his  successor. 


S-r 


;:.  ; 


CHAPER  XLII. 


V. 


AN   INDIAN   GAME   OF   BALL. 

Iroquois  Indians  frequently  occupied  their 
long,  idle  days  with  games,  on  which  they  were 
accustomed  to  bet.  One  of  their  favorite  pastimes 
was  a  game  of  ball,  and  great  ball  matches  were 
sometimes  played  between  different  tribes.  The 
Mohawks  once  challenged  the  Senecas  to  a  na- 
tional game  of  ball.  A  great  concourse  of  Indians 
had  gathered  to  witness  the  game.  The  Senecas 
stood  in  groups  upon  one  side  of  the  play-ground, 
the  Mohawks  upon  the  other.  First  the  betting 
began.  The  Indians  betted  ornaments,  hatchets, 
swords,  rifles,  belts,  knives,  and  furs,  upon  the  re- 
sults of  the  contest.  A  bet  upon  one  side  of  a 
valuable  article  was  matched  with  an  article  of 
like  value  upon  the  other.  The  stakes  were  placed 
under  the  care  of  a  company  of  :<ged  Indians. 
The  game  then  began. 

The  ball  was  of  deer-skin ;  the  bats  were  woven 
with  deer-skin  thongs.  A  certain  number  of  play- 
ers were  chosen  upon  each  side.     They  were  en- 


AN   INDIAN    GAME    OF   1?ALL. 


341 


tircly  naked  except  for  the  breech-clt)th.  Each 
party  had  a  gate,  or  two  poles  planted  in  the 
ground  about  three  rods  apart.  The  aim  of  the 
players  on  each  side  was  to  drive  the  ball  throui^h 
their  own  gate  a  specified  number  of  times.  It 
took  several  contests  to  decide  the  match.  The 
players  provided  with  bats  were  ranged  in  oppo- 
site lines,  and  between  them  stood  two  men  chosen 
from  each  side.  The  ball  was  then  placed  among 
them.  Sometimes  a  pretty  Indian  girl,  very  gayly 
dressed  and  decked  with  silver  ornaments,  ran  into 
the  midst  of  the  players  and  dropped  the  ball  on 
the  ground.  It  was  one  of  the  rules  of  the  game 
that  the  ball  must  not  be  touched  by  foot  or  hand. 
Instantly  the  ball  was  placed  on  the  play-groimd 
each  of  the  two  Indians  who  stood  in  the  centre 
made  a  struggle  to  give  it  the  start  toward  his 
own  gate.  The  ball  once  flying  through  the  air 
was  followed  by  the  players  from  both  sides.  It 
would  be  caught  among  them,  and  there  would 
be  an  exciting  struggle  to  extricate  it.  Such  a 
struggle  was  always  going  on  at  some  point  upon 
the  ground.  Perhaps  some  fleet-footed  player 
would  succeed  in  getting  the  ball  upon  his  bat. 
Me  would  run  with  all  his  might  towards  his  gate 
bearing  the  ball  upon  his  bat ;  for  if  he  could  run 
through  the  gate  with  it  his  side  would  make  one 


\l   !, 


!     tl 


;  :j 


•b\ 


V 


342 


DRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


p 


S. 


point.  But  the  opposite  side  would  have  stationed 
runners  to  j>-uard  against  any  such  easy  success. 
They  would  bend  every  nerve  to  interrupt  the 
runner.  If  he  did  not  succeed  in  dodging  them 
just  as  they  were  upon  him,  he  would  perhaps  i 
throw  the  ball  over  his  head  toward  the  gate  or 
toward  some  player  on  his  side.  Sometimes  one 
party  would  rescue  the  ball  at  the  very  gate  of 
the  opposing  party  and  carry  it  back  in  triumph  , 
through  its  own.  When  the  match  was  finally 
decided,  the  victorious  tribe  would  throw  caps, 
tomahawks,  and  blankets  into  the  air  in  an  ecstasy 
of  exultation. 

Players  were  frequently  severely  hurt  in  the 
fierce  struggles  over  the  ball.  It  was  usually  taken 
in  good  part,  but  at  this  particular  game  a  Mo- 
hawk player  struck  a  Seneca  a  hard  blow  with  his 
bat.  Instantly  the  Senecas  dropped  their  bats, 
took  up  the  stakes  that  they  had  laid  down  in  bet- 
ting, and  returned  to  their  own  country.  Three 
weeks  after.  Red  Jacket  and  some  other  chiefs 
sent  a  belligerent  message  to  the  Mohawks  de- 
manding satisfaction  for  the  insult.  Brant  imme- 
di^itely  called  a  council  of  his  people,  and  it  was 
decided  to  recommend  a  friendly  council  of  both 
nations  to  settle  the  difference.  The  Senecas  con- 
sented to  this,  and  the  council  met.     Red  Jacket 


m»m 


AN   INDIAN   GAME   OF   BALL. 


343 


was  opposed  to  a  reconciliation.  He  made  a  stir- 
ring speech  in  which  he  pictured  the  offence  in  its 
blackest  light,  and  was  in  favor  of  nothing  less 
than  war.  But  the  older  Senecas,  and  among 
them  Cornplanter,  who  had  not  yet  lost  all  his 
influence,  were  opposed  to  a  break  between  the 
two  nations,  and  proposed  that  presents  should  be 
made  in  atonement  to  the  young  man  who  had 
been  injured.  The  Mohawks  consented  to  this, 
and  the  pipe  of  peace  was  finally  smoked  in  friend- 
ship. ^  "^ 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 


k. 


RED     JACKETS    PLOT     AGAINST     I5KANT  —  BRANTS 

^  DEATH. 

Brant  had  often  met  Red  Jacket,  as  we  have 
seen,  in  the  councils  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  he  de- 
spised him  thoroughly,  and  took  no  pains  to  con- 
ceal it.  But  spite  and  jealousy  moved  Red  Jacket 
to  plot  against  the  power  of  this  most  proud  and 
powerful  Iroquois  chief.  For  several  years  he 
had  sought  to  undermine  Brant's  popularity. 
*  Meantime  Brant's  mind  was  filled  with  plans  for 
his  Mohawks,  in  the  matter  of  selling  their  hinds; 
for  sell  them  they  must,  now  that  the  inevitable 
demand  for  them  had  come.  He  proposed  to  sell 
much  of  the  Grand  River  territory  off  in  farms  to 
the  settlers,  thus  enhancing  the  value  of  what 
remained,  and  realizing  a  great  deal  of  money  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Indians.  But  the  colonial  ai- 
thorities  did  not  choose  to  give  up  their  pre-emp- 
ti(>n  rights  to  so  valuable  a  tract  of  land,  and  Brant 
became  involved  in  endless  controversies,  the 
parent  government  favoring  Brant's  construction 


RKI)   JACKF/r'S    rLOT—r.RANT's    DKATII.       345 


\ 


/ 


of  tlic  Mohawk  claim  to  the  lands,  and  the  pro- 
vincial ^ovcrntncnt  niakinu;'  dillicultics  which 
were  never  entirely  overcome. 

There  were  interested  white  men  who  wished 
to  defeat  Brant's  schemes  by  curtailin_L(  his  power. 
These  men,  tog^ether  with  Red  Jacket,  vSome  dis- 
satisfied youn<^  Mohawks  who  did  not  C()mi)re- 
hend  Brant's  exertions  for  their  benefit,  and  vari- 
ous envious  chiefs,  laid  a  plot  to  depose  him. 
A  secret  council  of  the  plotters  was  held  at  Buffalo 
Creek  in  1805,  in  which  Brant  was  char<^ed  with 
dishonesty  in  the  management  of  the  Mohawk 
funds,  and  deposed  as  were  also  most  of  the  Mo- 
hawk chiefs  who  were  Brant's  friends.  But  this 
was  not  all.  The  Mohawk  chief  Norton,  who  was 
a  confidential  friend  of  Brant,  was  then  in  England 
endeavoring  to  settle  the  land  controversy.  The 
white  men  who  were  interested  in  preventing  this 
drew  up  a  paper  disavow^ing  Norton's  mission. 
This  paper  was  signed  by  the  plotters,  and  among 
them  the  dissatisfied  Mohawks  put  down  their 
names  as  chiefs,  to  give  the  paper  more  weight. 
This  measure  was  at  least  very  annoying  to  Brant, 
as  it  interfered  with  his  business  in  England. 

But  Brant  did  not  stay  deposcfl.  The  council 
had  indeed  been  contrary  to  custom— the  law  of 
the  Indians — for  it  was  held  in  secret  and  attended 


; : 


^' 


111 


346 


BRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


only  by  his  enemies.  The  chief  immediately 
called  a  full  council  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  made 
a  very  clear  defence  of  his  character. 

"  My  only  crime  is,"  said  Brant,  "  that  I  want  to 
make  you  a  happy  people,  and  for  you  to  be 
enabled  to  call  your  land  your  own  forever,  and 
not  leaving  it  doubtful  whether  it  is  yours  or  not. 

"  What  I  did  tended  to  raise  your  name  as  well 
as  my  own,  and,  in  other  instances  where  I  might 
have  been  enriched,  I  have  refused  receiving,  for 
fear  of  your  name  being  tarnished.  Still  you 
would  almost  brand  me  with  the  name  of  a  thief, 
although  not  one  of  you  has  ever  subscribed  a  ^ 
l)eniiy  to  pay  my  expenses  when  I  travelled  on 
your  1)11  blic  busin,css.  ' 

The  Moliawk  chiefs  were  incensed  at  the 
charges  against  Brant.     They  rose  in  his  defence. 

"  We  find  divisions  among  us,"  said  they.  "  The 
young  men  think  to  take  the  lead  who  know  noth- 
ing of  our  aflau\s,  nor  what  we  have  suffered  in 
the  war.  According  to  the  first  formation  of  our 
confederacy,  the  Mohawk  was  the  leading  nation. 
So  it  has  been  since  our  establishment  at  Grand 
River.  Therefore,  our  leading  chief,  Captain 
Brant,  has  stood  foircinost  in  our  affairs,  with 
which  he  is  thoroughly  ac:]uaiiitc(l.  There  have 
been  many  rumors  concerning  our  money,  and  the 


RED   JACKET  S    PLOT— RRANT'S   DEATH.       347 


K 


application  made  of  it.  Wc,  that  have  been 
cnjj^ai^ed  in  the  public  affairs,  know  where  it  is 
gone.  He  has  not  been  always  travelliiii;  and 
emi)loyed  on  his  own  concerns;  it  has  been  on 
those  of  the  public.  He  has  been  on  the  other 
side  ot  the  water,  and  several  times  at  Ouebec; 
and  always  in  these  journeys  ex{)ended  his  own 
property,  we  never  making;  any  collection  for  him." 

Publicly  cleared  of  all  suspicion  in  this  council 
of  the  Six  Nations,  Brant  was  declared  still  a 
chief,  and  Red  Jacket  and  the  other  plotters  were 
discomfited. 

Brant's  last  years  were  shadowed  with  a  .greater 
sorrow  than  the  plots  of  his  enemies.  Ills  oldest 
son,  Isaac,  was  educated  in  the  Mohawk  Valley, 
and  at  Niai^ara  during  the  war.  But  he  was  from 
the  beginnmg  wild  and  unruly.  At  Niagara  his 
assQciations  were  bad,  and  he  became  dissipated. 
When  drunk  he  was  very  quarrelsome,  and  made 
himself  especially  disagreeable  toward  his  stei>- 
mother  and  the  family  of  younger  children  which 
was  growing  up.  Brant  married  him  to  a  very 
attractive  Indian  girl,  hoping,  like  many  another 
parent,  thus  to  reclaim  the  young  man.  Me  also 
made  Isaac  his  private  secretary.  '  But  the  young 
Indian  still  continued  his  drunken  carousals, 
abused  his  stepmother,  though  she  never  answered 


I- 


jf 


34« 


imANT   AND    RF,D   JACKKT. 


him,  wlicn  he  was  in  one  of  his  quarrelsome 
moods,  and  often  threatened  the  life  of  his  father. 
He  was  of  a  murderous  disposition.  He  assaulted 
a  young  man  once  in  the  road,  killed  his  horse, 
and  injured  him  severely.  His  father  had  to 
pay  heavy  damages  in  consequence  of  this  csca- 
I)ade.  Isaac  at  another  time  killed  a  man  in  cold 
blood. 

Brant  was  attending:  an  Indian  council  at  Dur- 
lington  Heights,  on  Lake  Cliamplain.  .Vftcr 
taking  tea  one  evening  with  a  lady  and  gentleman 
he  had  walked  over  to  the  tavern.  Soon  after 
this  his  son  entered  an  adjoining  room,  and  began 
loudly  abusing  his  father.  Brant  could  [)lainly 
hear  what  was  said  through  tlic  board  partition. 
He  rose  and  entered  t!ie  other  room.  The  instant 
his  son  saw  him  he  sprang  at  him.  Somy  of  the 
bystanders,  however,  caught  young  Brant  around 
the  waist,  and  the  knife  with  which  he  had  rushed 
at  his  father  fell  only  u[>()n  Brant's  hand.  Almost 
instantly  Brant  had  returned  the  blow,  striking 
his  son  on  the  head  with  a  dirk.  Tiie  young  man's 
'vound  was  not  considered  (lanfi"er()us.  But  he 
was  enraged  by  drink,  and  woidd  not  allow  it  to 
be  dressed,  tearini^f  oif  tlie  bandaires  as  soon  as 
they  were  put  on,  and  causing  it  to  bleed  ])ro- 
fuseK'  b\   Ills   \  loleut   excitement.      He  svas  at  last 


RKD   JACKETS    PLOT — HRANT'S    DKAlIf.       349 

tied  down  until  he  became  sober,  when  his  wound 
was  properly  dressed.  He  immediately  l)eL^an 
drinking',  and  a<i^ain  tore  the  dressin<j^  from  his 
wonnd.  A  brain-lever  set  in  and  the  3'()unij  In- 
dian soon  died. 

Brant  immediately  p;avc  himself  over  to  the 
authorities,  and  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
British  service  upon  which  he  drew  half  pay. 
Lord  Dorchester,  however,  would  not  accept  the 
resignation,  and  when  Brant  called  an  Indian 
council  and  laid  the  case  before  the  Indians,  they 
decided  with  their  accustomed  dclibcratcncss  to 
acquit  Brant  of  all  blame.  Nevertheless  the  old 
chief,  as  he  lay  in  his  room  and  looked  at  the  dirk 
which  hung  upon  the  wall,  and  with  which  he 
had  killed  his  son,  would  often  weep  at  the 
memory  of  the  catastrophe. 

Brant's  second  wife  had  been  childless,  but  by 
his  third  wife  the  chief  had  seven  children.  In 
planning  to  educate  his  younger  sons,  Brant 
looked  back  with  pleasant  remembrances  to  the 
school  of  his  boyhood.  His  old  teacher.  President 
Wheelock,  was  dead,  but  his  son  had  succeeded 
him  at  Dartmouth  College.  In  spite  of  English 
jealousy,  the  chief  sent  two  of  his  sons  to  Dart- 
mouth. In  one  of  his  letters  to  Mr.  Wheelock  he 
said  : 


il 


/ 


350 


15KANT  AND   i;i:i)    (Aci::'  •. 


v:l:tf'rm 


J' Ml 


IH   ,. 


'•  I  rt'ccivc  an  iiicxpi'cssihic  satlsfadion  i:i  luiar- 
in_L^  from  y(«u  that,  ^•()u  liavc  ia-kcn  my  sons  nndcr 
your  protection,  and  also  io  fnid  that,  yon  yet.  re- 
tain a  St  roni^  rememl)rance  of  our  ancient  fricnd- 
sliip.  For  my  ])ait,  nothinii;"  can  efface  from  my 
memory  the  perseverin;^  attention  \()ur  revered 
father  paid  to  my  echuatlon  when  I  was  in  the 
piacc  my  sons  now  arc.  Though  f  was  an  un- 
profitable pupil  in  vSome  respects,  yet,  \\\v  worldly 
affairs  have  been  much  benefited  I)}-  (he  instruc- 
tion I  there  received." 

Brant  died  in  1807,  at  sixty-four  )-eais  of  a^j^e, 
leavinp^  imfuiishcd  his  work  for  the  security  of  the 
Mohawks  in  the  full  possession  of  their  lands. 
Amouij^  liis  last  words  he  said  to  the  chief  Xorton  : 

"Have  pity  on  the  pooi-  Indians.  If  \(»u  can 
get  any  influence  with  the  great,  endeavor  to  do 
them  all  the  good  you  can." 

A  few  \ears  before  the  chief's  death  he  harl 
built  a  large  house  on  a  cract  of  land  at  the  luad 
of  Lake  Ontario,  a  gift  from  the  king.  Tyrant  had 
a  number  of  negro  slaves  whom  he  had  captured 
during  the  war,  and  who  lived  with  him  in  con- 
tentment, it  is  said,  satisfied  with  the  Indian  cus- 
toms. Ills  youngest  son,  John,  became  a  chief 
after  his  father's  death.  lie  was  a  gentlemanly 
young  fellow,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  war 


tt^^^M 


/ 


RED    JACKETS    rr,OT — BRANT'S    OEATir,       33  I 


had 
lu'ad 

had 
lircd 
l"(m- 

;  iis- 
ll.icf 

inly 

Ivar 


of  1812.  Tic  and  his  jounf^cst  sister,  Elizabeth, 
lived  in  their  father's  house  iti  eivihzed  style,  but 
their  mother  [)referred  to  live  ainon^^  the  Indians 
j.i  the  Mohawk  Village,  at  Grand  River.  A  jj^in- 
llenian  and  his  dauiLCl'ters  who  visited  them  in 
1 8 19  found  the  i)arl(,)r  earpeted,  and  lurnisiied 
Vv'itli  pier  and  chimney  glasses,  mahoi^any  tables, 
the  fashionable  chairs  of  the  dav,  a  j^uitar,  and  a 
number  of  books.  Miss  iJrant  ]>i"ove(l  to  be  "a 
noble-lookini^  Indian  g"irl."  The  upper  part  ol  her 
hair  was  done  up  in  a  silk  net,  while  the  Ion;;' 
'ower  tresses  humr  down  her  back.  She  woie  a 
-short  black  silk  j)etticoat,  with  a  tunic  of  the  same; 
[iterial,  black  silk  stockiairs,  and  black  kid  shoes. 


ai 


f)"' 


She  was  lemarkably  self-possessed  and  lad \ -like. 
She  afterwards  married  William  Jolmson  Kerr,  a 
g'randson  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  and  they  lived 
toilet  her  in  the  Brant  house. 

Hrant  was  buried   beside  the  church   which   he 
had    built    at   Grand     l<.iver,  the   first  church    in 


U 


<r 


PI 


)er 


an 


Lidc 


The 


re   IS  a  monument   over    his 


rave  with  the  following  inscription: 
"This  tomb  is  erected  to  the  memory  of  Tliav- 
cndane<^ea,  or  Capt.  Joseph  Brant,  j)rincii)al  chief 
and  warrior  of  the  Six  Nations  Indians,  b\'  his 
fellow-subjects,  admiiers  of  his  fidelity  and  attach- 
ment to  the  British  ciowii." 


f 


i" 


f'M  n 


f  1;,;:, 


^4    ^'^' 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE   BATTLE    OF   CIIirPEWA. 

Indians  are  as  merciless  in  ridicule  as  in  war. 
They  were  fond  of  Red  Jacket,  but  they  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  to  laugh  at  his  lack  of 
physical  courage.  They  would  jokingly  remind 
him  in  company  that  they  had  (jncc  taken  pity  on 
"  him  and  given  him  a  scalp  to  take  home,  but  tliey 
would  declare  that  he  was  afraid  to  carry  it. 
Stung  by  the  sneers  of  his  enemies  and  the  jeers 
of  his  friends,  Red  Jacket  was  eager  for  war  that 
he  might  redeem  his  character  from  the  stain  of 
c(nvardice.  A  chance  presented  itself  in  the  war 
of  1812.  The  Mohawks  under  young  Brant  had 
stood  firm  in  their  alliance  with  England.  The 
other  Iroquois  nations  had  at  first  promised  the 
Americans  to  remain  neutral,  but  Red  Jacket 
spoke  eloquently  for  war  on  the  American  side. 
In  company  with  other  Iroquois  chiefs  he  led  his 
people  into  several  battles,  the  most  important  of 
which  was  the  battle  of  Chi[)})ew;i. 

General  Brown,  with  an  army  of  regulars,  vol- 


TIIK    r.ATTLE    OF    CIIirrEWA. 


353 


jccrs 
that 

tin  of 

war 

had 

rhe 

the 

icket 

I  side, 
his 

ht  of 

vol- 


iintccrs,  and  Indians,  boidly  resolved  to  invade 
Canada  in  1814.  The  Indian  force  of  the  Six 
Na  '')ns  had  dwindled  down  from  thousand?  to 
hundreds.  Some  five  or  six  himdrcd  Indians  in- 
cluded nearly  all  their  w^arriors,  except  the 
Mohawks,  who  w^cre  on  the  other  side.  Early 
one  July  morning*  the  English  garrison  at  Fort 
Erie,  looking  through  their  glasses,  found  them- 
selves surrounded  by  American  and  Indian  forces. 
Soon  after  noon  the  garrison  capitulated.  The 
English  army  under  General  Real,  which  was 
about  equal  to  the  American  in  strength,  lay  some 
Cigiit'  en  miles  below,  at  Chippewa.  On  the  same 
evening  General  Brown  began  his  march  toward 
Chippewa.  On  nearing  the  enemy,  the  British 
India!is  i^accd  in  the  woods  succeeded  in  cramp- 
ing and  annoving  the  American  army.  General 
Brown's  pickets  were  constantly  assailed,  and  he 
took  the  extreme  measure  of  cashicrinir  one  of  his 
officers  for  allowing  his  guard  to  be  driven  in. 
It  was  not  believed  that  there  was  a  single  liritish 
soldier  ui)()n  this  side  of  the  Chippewa  Rix'cr,  and 
General  Porter,  in  command  of  the  American  In- 
dians and  volunteers,  was  ordered  to  dislodge  the 
British  Indians. 

The  soldiers   and   Indians  were   delighted  with 
theif  task.     When  the  Injqucns  had  divested  them- 


h'l  /(f  V'H 


i   ]■' 


w 

II 

f't- 

'.'■    ': 

'    ■■  ? 

h 

^-  -.    ' 

i   r  f  - 

354 


15RANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


selves  of  every  unnecessary  article  of  clothing-, 
painted  themselves  sufficiently  and  all  was  ready, 
the  detachment  was  formed  in  Indian  file  and 
marched  for  tlie  woods.  When  the  Indians  were 
in  the  woods  and  the  white  men  still  in  the  open 
field,  every  man  faced  around,  and  immediately  a 
line  of  battle  was  formed  one  man  deep  and  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  long.  Red  Jacket  occupied  the 
end  of  the  Indian  line,  while  General  Porter  was 
between  his  white  and  red  forces.  The  Indian 
war-chiefs  marched,  according  to  their  custom, 
about  twenty  3'ards  in  advance  of  their  men.  The 
farther  advance  was  now  carried  on  silently  and 
cautiouslv.  Scouts  were  ahead,  and  Porter's 
movements  were  directed  by  signals.  The  Indian 
chiefs  themselves,  when  an)^thing  happened  which 
demanded  extra  precaution  or  time  to  consult, 
had  a  mode  of  telegraphing  it  through  their  line, 
and  instantly  every  man  would  drop  vo  the  ground 
in  a  crouching  position.  The  Indians  lay  thus 
concealed  in  a  thicket  very  near  the  enem}^  when 
a  final  consultation  was  held.  It  was  decided  to 
quicken  the  march  almost  to  a  run,  to  receive  the 
first  fire  of  the  enemy  but  not  to  return  it,  except 
singly  and  where  it  was  sure  to  bring  down  a 
man,  then  to  raise  the  w^ar-whoop  and  fall  upon 
the   enemy.     The   first   fire  was   accordingly    re- 


krU 


- 


THE    IJATTLE    OF    CIIirrEWA, 


355 


c  the 
:ccpt 
\vn  a 
upon 
re- 


ceived, savage  yells  arose  from  white  man  and 
Indian,  and  a  rush  was  made.  The  enemy  fletl, 
and  Porter's  forces  })ursued  with  deadly  havoc. 
The  Mohawks  believed  that  they  would  receive  no 
quarter ;  few  of  them  surrendered,  many  of  them 
allowed  themselves  to  be  cut  down  in  their  tracks, 
often  turning  upon  their  pursuers  and  fighting  to 
the  last.  The  pursuit  lasted  for  a  mile  to  the 
edge  of  the  open  field  opposite  Chippewa.  Here 
the  pursuers  were  met  by  a  discharge  of  musketry. 
Those  in  front  were  thrown  back  in  confusion 
upon  those  behind  them.  General  Porter  en- 
deavored to  rally  his  men,  having  no  suspicion 
of  the  presence  of  any  force  other  than  that 
of  the  Indians.  The  American  forces  advanced 
again  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  to  find  them- 
selves confronted  with  the  whole  British  army. 
The  American  detachment  received  and  '-eUirned 
two  or  three  fires.  The  English  charged  them, 
and  then  General  Porter  gave  the  order  to  .re- 
treat. Every  man  made  the  best  use  of  his 
legs.  Some  of  the  Indians  had  brought  into 
battle  with  them  their  boys,  to  train  theai  in  war. 
As  they  neared  General  Scott's  detachment, 
sent  out  to  Telic\e  them,  one  immense  fellow 
who  had  taken  his  hoy  of  fourteen  across  his 
shoulder  was  seen  running  along  with  him  witii 


P"P 


356 


BRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


^h 


i«; 


5*11 


i'it', 


fill  his  might.  Suddenly  a  shell  exploded  over 
his  head. 

*'  Ugh !"  ex'claimed  the  Indian,  bounding  up 
into  the  air.  As  he  came  down  the  boy  dropped 
sprawling  upon  the  ground.  Without  turning  to 
look  behind  him  the  Indian  ran  on,  while  the  toy 
hastily  gathered  himself  up  and  maae  all  speed 
after  his  father.  In  spite  of  the  seriousness  of  the 
occasion,  the  young  officers  indulged  in  a  hearty 
laugh  at  this  ridiculous  by-play.  General  Scott 
rebuked  them  for  their  levity. 

Scott's  brigade  opened  and  admitted  the  fugi- 
tiv^cs.  The  general  immediately  marched  his  men 
over  the  bridge  across  a  creek,  under  a  galling  fire 
of  artillery,  and  met  the  British,  who  were  charging 
at  a  headlong  pace,  with  a  discharge  of  musketrv, 
which  forced  them  to  fall  back.  They  instantly 
rallied  and  made  another  advance,  and  were  met 
with  another  tremendous  discharge  of  musketry. 
They  now  left  the  battle-ground  as  swiftly  as  they 
had  come  upon  it.  They  did  not  stop  until  they  had 
crossed  the  Chippewa  and  destroyed  the  bridge 
behind  him.  General  Scott  could  not  advance, 
because  he  would  have  to  face  their  batteries, 
which  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  and 
could  not  be  reached.  He  moved  to  the  held 
opposite  Chippewa,   and  ordered    his    men  to  he 


III 


tl 


THE    BATTLE    OF    CIIirPEWA. 


357 


down  with  their  heads  toward  the  batteries  to 
escape  the  enemy's  fire.  The  whole  army  was 
at  this  time  engaged  in  the  action,  which  ch)sed 
at  sundown  without  any  further  results.  Mean- 
time the  British  Indians  had  fled,  never  to 
return.  Many  of  the  American  Indians  had 
departed  also,  and  they  returned  home,  from 
time  to  time,  according  to  their  independent 
habits. 

Two  days  later  the  Americans  forced  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Chippewa.  The  enemy  retreated,  after 
a  short  but  brave  resistance.  The  Indians  could 
not  be  restrained  from  committing  depredati(^ns 
upon  the  farmers  on  the  line  of  the  army's  ad- 
vance. They  also  captured  from  fifty  to  a  hun- 
dred barrels  of  liquor  and  stores  which  the  British 
had  concealed  in  the  woods.  Greatly  to  their 
discontent,  this  booty  was  turned  over  to  the 
American  quarter-master.  Red  Jacket  now  sug- 
gested the  sending  a  deputation  to  the  British 
camp  proposing  the  withdrawal  of  Indian  forces 
upcMi  both  sides  during  the  remainder  of  the 
war.  General  Brown  acquiescing,  two  young 
chiefs  were  sent  to  the  British  army  and  returned 
with  a  somewhat  favorable  answer.  Red  Jacket 
made  the  most  of  it,  and  the  American  Indians 
went  home  promising  to  return  in  case  the  British 


H  ' 


:  1    .rs 


358 


BRANT  AND   RED  JACKET. 


Indians  again  took  part.  They  were  not  again 
called  upon,  and  Red  Jacket  ended  his  career  as  a 
warrior,  which,  if  not  brilliant,  was  certainly  not 
disgraceful  during^  the  war  of  1812. 


11 


n^ 


f> 


I 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

ANECDOTES   OF   RED   JACKET. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Red  Jacket's  one 
purpose  was  to  prevent  the  encroachment  of  white 
nien.and  their  customs  and  rehgion  upon  his  peo- 
ple. But  let  him  speak  never  so  eloquently  against 
the  sale  of  lands,  the  Indians. would  nevertheless  sell 
them  and  he  himself  would  always  sign  the  treaty. 
Above  all  things,  Red  Jacket  hated  to  see  the 
church  and  the  school-house  rise  among  the  In- 
dians. He  thought  these  but  the  fcjrerunners  of 
tliC  settler  with  his  axe. 

Black-coats,  as  he  called  the  preachers,  were  his 
especial  detestation.  Nevertheless,  missionaries 
gained  a  very  considerable  influence  among  the 
Senecas.  There  came  t>^  be  two  distinct  parties 
ot  Indians,  a  pagan  and  a  Christian  party.  The 
latter  was  headed  by  the  old  chief,  Captain  Pol- 
lard, or  Little  Billy  as  he  was  sometimes  called, 
while  Red  Jacket,  the  confirmed  old  fogy,  led  the 
opposition.  In  this  field  he  was  a  dauntless  war- 
rior.    Taking  advantage  of  a  law  to  prevent  en- 


,  11 : 


's6o 


BRANT  AND   UKI)   JA("KF:T. 


■'h 


j.-' 


cioaclimcnts  iij)()n  the  Iiulian  reservation,  he  suc- 
ceeded once  in  breaking  up  the  Seneca  mission  for 
the  time.  Red  Jacket  was  asked  wliy  he  had  such 
a  hatred  for  the  missionaries. 

'*  Because,"  answered  the  chief,  "  they  do  us  no 
good.  If  they  art  useful  to  the  white  people,  why 
do  they  send  them  among  the  Indians?  The 
white  ])eople  arc  surely  bad  enough  to  need  the 
labor  of  every  one  who  can  make  them  better. 
These  men  know  we  do  not  understand  their  lan- 
guage. We  cannot  read  their  book ;  they  tell  us 
different  stones  about  what  it  contains,  and  we 
believe  that  they  make  the  book  talk  to  suit  them- 
selves." 

Red  Jacket  lost  ten  or  eleven  children  by  con- 
sumption. A  lady  once  asked  him  whether  he 
had  any  children  living. 

"Red  Jacket  was  once  a  great  man,  and  in 
favor  with  the  Great  Spirit,"  sorrowfully  an- 
swered the  chief.  "  He  was  a  lofty  pine  among 
the  smaller  trees  of  the  forest.  But,  after  years 
of  glory,  he  degraded  himself  by  drinking  the  fire- 
water of  the  white  man.  The  Great  Spirit  has 
looked  upon  him  in  anger,  and  his  lightning  has 
stripped  the  pine  of  its  branches." 

Red  Jacket  married  a  second  wife.  She  was 
\he  widow   )f  a  chief  named  Two  Guns,  and  a  wo- 


i>* 


t 


ANECDOTES   ()!•    RED   JACKET. 


301 


man  of  fine  face  and  l)cnrini]f.  She  became  inter- 
ested in  Christianity,  and  thought  of  joininj^  the 
cnurch  ;  whereupon  Red  Jacket  was  enraged.  He 
said  that  they  had  hved  ha[)[)ily  together,  but  that 
now,  if  she  joined  the  party  to  which  her  husband 
was  opposed,  he  would  leave  her.  I  lis  wife,  how- 
ever, joined  the  church,  and  Red  Jacket  immedi- 
ately left  her  and  went  to  the  other  reservation, 
where  he  lived  with  another  woman.  He  had  a 
little  daughter  of  whom  he  was  very  fond.  She 
used  to  sit  on  his  keees  and  amuse  him  with  her 
chatter.  She  missed  her  father  a  great  deal,  and 
constantly  teased  her  mother  to  take  her  to  him. 
Red  Jacket's  wife  finally  took  the  little  girl  to  the 
reservation  where  he  lived,  though  she  herself 
refused  to  see  the  chief.  The  little  girl  ran  to  him 
and  threw  her  arms  about  his  neck.  He  was 
much  touched,  and  told  her  that  he  was  coming 
home,  that  he  was  sorry  he  had  left  her  mother, 
and  that  he  had  bought  her  some  broadcloth  and 
beads.  When  she  was  ready  to  go  home  he  took 
her  to  the  door  of  the  cabin  where  her  mother 
was,  but  did  not  enter.  The  little  girl  cried  piti- 
fully as  she  parted  with  her  father.  In  a  few 
weeks  Red  Jacket  returned  to  his  home,  promis- 
ing never  to  interfere  with  his  wife's  religion,  and 
he  kci)t  his  promise.     Before  he  had  left  her,  his 


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362 


BRANT   AND    RED  JACKET. 


4^':i 


wife  was  obliged  to  leave  her  blanket  outdoors 
where  she  could  slip  out  and  get  it  without  her 
husband's  knowledge  when  she  wanted  to  go  to 
meeting.  Now  he  would  call  his  daughter  early 
Sunday  morning,  saying : 

"  Come,  it  is  Sunday,  you  know.  Get  up  and 
get  the  work  all  done,  so  as  to  go  to  meeting  with 
your  mother.     Always  go  with  your  mother." 

When  Lafayette  visited  Buffalo  in  1825,  among 
the  crowds  who  thronged  to  see  him  was  Red 
Jacket.  When  the  chief  was  introduced  to  Lafay- 
ette, he  said : 

"  Do  you  remember  being  at  the  treaty  of  peace 
with  the  Six  Nations  at  Fort  Stanwix  ?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Frenchman,  "  I  have  not 
forgotten  that  great  council.  By  the  way,  what 
became  of  that  young  man  who  opposed  so  elo- 
quently the  burying  of  the  tomahawk  ?" 

"  He  is  before  you,"  said  Red  Jacket. 

"Time  has  worked  great  changes  upon  us 
both,"  said  Lafayette. 

**  Ah,"  replied  Red  Jacket,  "  time  has  not  been 
so  severe  upon  you  as  it  has  upon  me.  It  has  left 
you  a  fresh  countenance  and  hair  to  cover  your 
head  ;  while  to  me — behold  !"  The  chief  pulled  a 
handkerchief  from  his  head  and  disclosed  its  bald- 
ness.    The  attendants  laughed  at  the  simplicity  of 


ANECDOTFS   OF   RED   JACKET. 


3<">3 


the  Indian  in  supposing  Lafayette's  wi^  to  be  his 
own  hair.  Some  one  explained  to  Red  Jacket 
how  white  men  repaired  the  deficiency  of  hair. 
Thereupon  Red  Jacket  vSaid,  laughingly,  that  he 
should  have  to  supply  himself  with  a  head-cover- 
ing by  taking  some  one's  scalp. 

He  pretended  to  understand  no  language  but 
his  own,  and  entertained  a  great  dislike  for  Eng- 
lish. He  would  not  reply  to  any  of  Lafayette's 
questions  until  his  interpreter  had  translated  them 
i'lto  Seneca. 

When  Red  Jacket  was  a  very  old  man,  he  was 
invited  to  the  launching  of  a  schooner  which  was 
named  after  him.  He  christened  the  vessel  witli 
a  short  speech.    - 

"  You  have  a  great  name  given  to  you,"  said  he, 
addressing  the  ship,  "  strive  to  deserve  it.  Be 
brave  and  daring.  Go  boldly  into  the  great  lakes 
and  fear  neither  the  swift  wind  nor  the  strong 
waves.  Be  not  frightened  nor  overcome  by  them, 
for  it  is  in  resisting  storms  and  tempest  that  1, 
whose  name  you  bear,  obtained  my  renown.  Let 
my  great  example  inspire  you  to  courage  and  lead 
you  to  glory." 

A  young  French  count  who  was  making  a  tour  ' 
in  America  visited  Buffalo,  and,  hearing  that  Red 
Jacket  was  one  of   the  wonders  of  the  town,  sent 


3^4 


KRANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


the  chief  a  request  that  he  would  visit  him  at 
Buffalo. 

"  Tell  the  young  man,"  said  Red  Jacket  to  the 
messenger,  "  that  if  he  wishes  to  see  the  old  chief, 
he  may  find  him  with  his  nation,  where  other 
strangers  pay  their  respects  to  him." 

The  young  nobleman  sent  to  say  that  he  was 
tired  from  his  journey  ;  that  he  had  come  all  the 
way  from  France  to  see  the  Seneca  orator,  and 
that  after  putting  himself  to  so  much  trouble  he 
thought  Red  Jacket  would  not  refuse  to  meet  him 
at  Buffalo. 

**  Tell  him,"  answered  the  chief,  "  that  it  is  very 
strange  he  should  come  so  far  to  sec  me  and  then 
stop  short  within  seven  miles  of  my  lodge." 

The  count  yielded.  He  visited  Red  Jacket  at 
his  cabin,  where  the  chief  accepted  an  invitation 
to  dinner  with  him  at  Buffalo.  The  young  gen- 
tleman was  very  much  delighted  with  the  proud 
chief,  and  insisted  that  he  was  a  greater  wonder 
than  Niagara  Falls. 

A  wealthy  gentleman  who  was  visiting  Buffalo 
once  invited  Red  Jacket  to  come  and  see  him. 
This  time  the  chief  dressed  himself  with  the  ut- 
most pains  and  went  to  see  him.  Now  this  gen- 
tleman's ideas  were  scarce  while  his  words  were 
many.     I  Ic  had  a  habit  of  standing  very  close  to 


ANECDOTES   OF    RED   JACKET. 


"r".- 
j^-*:) 


a  man  and  cliattcrinq^  with  immense  volubility. 
Red  Jacket  felt  j^rcatly  disappointed.  After  a 
short  conversation,  in  which  he  ^ot  no  chance  to 
utter  a  word,  but  stood  listeninj^  to  the  empty 
gabble,  he  put  his  face  up  to  the  man's  ear  and 
exclaimed,  "  Cha !  cha !  cha !"  and  walked  away. 
It  is  said  that  the  astonished  talker  was  silent  for  a 
longer  time  than  he  had  ever  been  known  to  be 
before. 

He  could  with  diiTicully  manage  a  knife  and 
fork  at  table.  He  made  every  effort  at  dinners  of 
ceremony,  however,  to  act  properly.  He  once 
told  a  gentleman  that  when  he  dined  witii  Wash- 
ington a  man  ran  off  with  his  knife  and  fork  every 
now  and  then  and  returned  with  others. 

"Now,"  said  Red  Jacket,  ''what  was  that  for^" 
The  gentleman  told  him  that  there  were  a  great 
many  kinds  of  dishes,  each  cooked  in  a  different 
manner,  and  that  the  plates,  knifes,  and  forks  were 
changed  every  time  a  new  dish  was  brought  on, 

"Ah,"  said  Red  Jacket  thoughtfully',  "is  that 
it?  You  must  then  sujipose  that  the  plates  and 
knives  and  forks  retain  the  taste  of  the  cookery  ?" 

"  \  es. 

"  Hnve  you  then,"  demanded  the  c!ii-f,  "nxy 
method  by  which  you  can  change  your  j)a!a(es 
cverv  time  V'>;i  ehaii'v  \'' Mir  pliitc  ?  fn-  I  fliink  the 


366 


BRANT   AM)    KKD    JACKK'I' 


taste  would  remain  on  the  ])alate  longer  than  it 
would  on  the  plate." 

"  Wc  are  in  the  habit  of  washing  that  away  by 
drinking  wine,"  answered  the  gentleman. 

**  Ah,"  said  Red  Jacket,  "  now  I  understand  it. 
1  was  persuaded  that  so  general  a  custom  among 
you  must  be  founded  in  reason,  and  I  only  regret 
that  when  I  was  in  Philadelphia  I  did  not  under- 
stand it.  The  moment  the  man  went  olf  with  my 
l)late,  I  would  have  drunk  wine  until  lie  brought 
me  another ;  for  although  I  am  fond  oi  eating,  I 
am  more  so  of  drinking." 

Red  Jacket  was  extremely  fond  of  sugar.  lie 
was  once  at  the  table  of  Captain  Jones,  the  inter- 
preter. Mrs.  Jones  prepared  his  coffee  witliout 
sugar,  for  a  joke. 

"  JMy  son,"  said  the  chief,  looking  at  tlie  cajttain 
severely,  "do  you  allow  your  scjuaw  tlnis  to  trifle 
with  your  father  ?"  The  children  giggled.  "  And 
do  you  allow  your  children  to  make  sjjort  of  tlieir 
chief?"  added  Red  Jacket.  A})ol(jgies  were  made, 
and  the  sugar-bowl  was  handed  to  the  offended 
chief.  He  filled  his  cup  to  the  brim  with  sugar, 
and  ate  it  out  by  the  sj)()()nful  with  the  iitnio;  t 
gravity. 

Red  Jacket  could  see  no  just  ice  in  the  white 
man's  couil  of  law.      An    Indian  \\lii>    l:;i(l    hioken 


ANECDOTES   OK    RED   JACKET. 


3^V 


into  a  house  and  stolen  some  small  article  was  in- 
dicted for  burglary.  Red  Jacket  made  a  long 
speecii  in  court  in  his  defence.  But  the  man  was 
sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  life,  much  to  the 
orator's  disgust.  After  the  proceedings  were 
over,  Red  Jacket  left  the  court-house  in  company 
with  the  lawyers.  Across  the  street  was  the  sign 
of  a  printing-office  with  the  arms  of  the  State, 
representing  Liberty  and  Justice.  Red  Jacket 
stopped  and  pointed  to  the  sign. 

"  What  him  call?"  demanded  the  chief. 

"  Liberty,"  answered  the  bystanders. 

''  Ugh  !"  said  Red  Jacket. 

"  What  him  call?"  pointing  to  the  other  ligure 
Mpon  the  sign. 

"Justice,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Where  him  live  now  ?"  inquired  the  chief. 

Red  Jacket  was  one  day  met  going  the  opposite 
direction  from  an  execution  to  which  everybody 
was  crowding.  He  was  asked  why  he,  too,  did 
not  go. 

"  Fools  enough  there  already.  Battle  is  the 
place  to  see  men  die,"  he  answered. 

He  was  once  questioned  as  to  his  opinion  of  a 
chief  named  Hot  Bread,  who  was  remarkable  for 
gluttony. 

"  WauLrh !"   exclaimed  the  orator.      'He  has  a 


368 


I5RANT   AND    RED   JACKET. 


little  place  at  Connawaugus — big  enough  for  him. 
J  Jig  man  here,"  pointing  to  his  stomach,  *'  but 
very  small  here,"  touching  his  forehead. 

As  a  young  man  Red  Jacket  had  always  refused 
to  sit  for  his  picture,  saying  that  when  he  died  all 
that  belonged  to  him  should  die  with  him.  His 
vanity  was  at  last  appealed  to,  however,  it  being 
represented  that  his  portrait  was  wanted  to  be 
l^laced  alongside  of  those  of  the  great  men  of 
the  United  States.  He  consented  to  sit  under 
these  circumstances,  and  a  number  of  portraits 
were  afterwards  made  of  him.  While  in  New 
York  once  he  sat  for  Weir.  The  Indians  who 
accompanied  him  stretched  themselves  on  the 
floor  of  the  studio  and  smoked  while  the  painting 
went  forward.  Red  Jacket  watched  with  the 
greatest  interest  the  growth  of  the  picture.  When 
his  medal  became  visible  in  the  picture  he  was 
pleased,  but  when  he  saw  a  faithful  picture  of  his 
tine  high  forehead,  of  which  he  was  very  proud, 
he  sprang  up,  giasped  the  artist's  hand,  and  cried, 
"  Good  !  good  !" 

Light  and  agile,  Red  Jacket  loved  the  chase. 
As  a  young  man  he  had  often  hunted  in  the 
(•cncsce  Valley.  As  an  old  man  he  visited  that 
country,  and  entering  the  forest  he  resolved  to 
have  one  more  hunt.     He  had  not  gone  far,  how- 


ANECDOTES   OF   RED  JACKET. 


3^^ 


the 

ntiiii^ 

the 

Vhcn 

was 

his 

oud, 

ricd, 

lase. 

the 

that 

to 

liow- 


i« 


ever,  before  he  saw  an  openini^;  a  fence  was  in  the 
way,  and  white  men  could  be  seen  in  the  distance 
ploughing.  The  chief  sadly  turned  in  another 
direction.  He  had  buried  himself  deep  in  the 
woods,  as  he  supposed,  when  he  again  ran  up 
against  a  fence  and  another  white  man's  field. 
The  old  man  sat  down  and  wept. 

Red  Jacket's  old  age  was  broken  by  intemperance 
and  embittered  by  his  struggles  with  the  Christian 
party.  He  was  indeed  once  formally  deposed  by 
his  enemies.  But  the  old  Indian's  spirit  arose. 
He  called  a  council  of  his  people.  Once  again  he 
spoke  with  his  old  eloquence,  and  he  was  rein- 
stated. But  his  faculties  fast  failed  after  this  out- 
burst. As  his  health  declined  he  knew  that  he 
must  die.  He  visited  the  cabins  of  his  friends,  and 
talked  with  them  of  the  affairs  of  his  people. 

"  I  am  about  to  leave  you,"  he  said,  "  and  when  I 
am  gone  and  my  longings  shall  no  longer  be  heard 
or  regarded,  the  craft  and  avarice  of  the  white 
man  will  prevail.  Many  winters  have  I  breasted 
the  storm,  but  I  am  an  aged  tree  and  can  stand  no 
longer.  My  leaves  arc  fallen,  my  branches  are 
withered,  and  I  am  shaken  by  every  breeze.  Soon 
my  aged  trunk  will  be  prostrate,  and  the  foot  of 
the  exulting  foe  of  the  Indian  may  be  [)laced  upon 
it  in  safety ;  for  I  have  none  who  will  be  able  to 


3;o 


BRANT  AND   RED   JACKET. 


avenge  such  an  indignity.    Think  not  I  mourn  for' 
myself.     1  go  to  join  the  spirits  of  my  fathers, 
where  age  cannot  come  ;  but  my  heart  fails  me 
when  1  think  of  my  people,  who  are  so  soon  to  be 
scattered  and  forgotten. 

"Bury  me  by  the  side  of  my  former  wife,  and 
let  my  funeral  be  according  to  the  customs  of  our 
nation.  Let  me  be  dressed  and  equipped  as  my 
fathers  were,  that  their  spirits  may  rejoice  at  my 
coming.  Be  sure  that  my  grave  be  not  made  by 
a  white  man  ;  let  them  not  pursue  mc  there." 

Almost  the  last  thing  that  the  old  chief  did  was 
to  call  a  council  of  both  the  parties  among  his 
people  and  recommend  that  they  should  resolva 
to  quarrel  no  more,  but  each  man  believe  accord- 
ing to  his  own  way.  He  was  taken  mortally  sick 
during  this  council.  Holding  a  bottle  in  his  hand 
containing  some  mysterious  liquid  which  he  be- 
lieved would  secure  him  a  ha})py  [massage  to  the 
other  world,  the  old  chief  bravely  met  death  at 
seventy -eight  years  of  age. 


THE    END. 


I 


